A man from Mercer County, New Jersey has admitted to defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by obtaining more than $256,000 in benefits that he was not entitled to receive. Mark Stratton, 67, of Lawrence Township, pleaded guilty on September 25 before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to a charge of theft of public money.
According to information presented in court and documents filed in the case, Stratton’s father received disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. After his father’s death, those benefits were transferred to Stratton’s mother and paid monthly into a joint bank account held by both Stratton and his mother. When Stratton’s mother died in 2008, the payments should have stopped. However, authorities say Stratton did not inform the Department of Veterans Affairs about her death and continued withdrawing funds for his own use.
A joint investigation by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation determined that between 2008 and 2025, Stratton improperly withdrew approximately $256,027 in benefits.
The offense carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for January 27, 2026.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba stated: “Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.”
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Abrams from Newark’s Narcotics/OCDETF Unit.
Stratton is represented by defense counsel Jonathan Marshall.
