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Justice News

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Connecticut

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 16, 2013

Stafford Springs Man Charged With Defrauding U.S. Veterans


Deirdre M. Daly, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOHN J. SIMON, JR., also known as “Buzzy Simon,” 66, of Stafford Springs, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with mail fraud.

As alleged in the criminal complaint, beginning in approximately 2009, SIMON, a Vietnam War veteran, defrauded several U.S. military veterans of thousands of dollars by representing that he would assist his victims in obtaining or increasing their VA benefits.  SIMON represented to certain victims that the money would be used to hire an attorney to do research and other work in furtherance of their claims.  These and other representations were false.

After his arrest, SIMON appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford and was released on a $50,000 bond.

The charge of mail fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

Citizens who have information that may be helpful to this investigation are encouraged to call 973-297-3317.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

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Updated March 18, 2015