Department of Veterans Affairs (Photo: Christopher Neugebauer)

A 57-year-old California man, Philip Abod, has been sentenced to one year and a day in prison for defrauding VA out of $105 million in the largest known Post-9/11 GI Bill fraud case. Abod, from Calimesa, played a role in a fraudulent scheme that involved making false representations about Veterans’ enrollment in technical training programs at California Technical Academy, a for-profit school.

Abod, along with his co-conspirators, engaged in deceptive practices, such as exaggerating the number of enrolled Veterans and creating an illusion of completed programs, ultimately deceiving the VA into providing over $32 million in tuition payments to the school between January 2012 and June 2022. The VA separately distributed over $72 million to the school for education-related benefits, covering book fees, housing, and other compensations for the supposedly 1,793 enrolled Veterans.

To cover up their scheme, Abod and his co-conspirators manipulated Veterans’ contact information, substituting phone numbers under their control to prevent regulators from contacting the Veterans. When regulators attempted to obtain information about the school by calling the falsified phone numbers, Abod and his cohorts impersonated students to further mislead authorities.

The investigation, led by the VA Office of Inspector General with support from the Veterans Benefits Administration-Education Service, exposed the complex web of lies woven by these individuals to misappropriate taxpayer dollars intended for the education of America’s Service Members. 

“This case is a stark reminder that fraud against our Veterans is not just a crime against individuals but a crime against our entire nation,” stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, emphasizing the severity of fraud against Veterans.

Following the sentencing, trial attorney Lauren Archer from the criminal division’s fraud section was credited with bringing the case to a close. As part of his sentencing, Abod has been ordered to pay $3.4 million in restitution to the VA.

CEO and Founder of California Technical Academy, Michael Bostock, 54, from Nampa, Idaho, received a five-year prison sentence last June for his involvement. Co-conspirator, Eric Bostock, 48, from Riverside, California, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison in November for his role in the fraudulent activities.

Author: Rikki Almanza

Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.