Haines City Police Captain Gabriel García Indicted in $1M VA Disability Fraud Scheme
– Update 3:20 PM –
According to U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Puerto Rico, Haines City Police Captain Gabriel García, identified as a veteran and police officer, allegedly participated in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by fraudulently obtaining a 100% disability rating.
According to the indictment, he worked with co-conspirators, including Richard Rivera-Maitin, who instructed him on providing false information during medical evaluations and completing disability application paperwork. This allowed García to receive VA disability benefit payments based on false medical conditions, contributing to the scheme’s financial enrichment of the defendants and substantial loss to the United States.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Puerto Rico Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On May 21, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a 49-count indictment charging 10 individuals with defrauding the government to obtain Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits. This criminal investigation was co-led by the United States Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, from 2020 to 2025, defendant Ángel Carrer-Rivera used his position as an employee of the VA to access the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS) and assign particular claims to VA employees that he supervised. At the same time, Ángel Carrer-Rivera communicated with a facilitator, defendant Richard Rivera-Maitin, regarding what false medical conditions should be claimed by specific veterans to fraudulently obtain disability benefits.
Together, Ángel Carrer-Rivera, Richard Rivera-Maitin and various veterans caused fraudulent claims for lifetime VA disability benefits to be submitted and approved based on false medical conditions, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 (conspiracy), 1349 (wire and mail fraud conspiracy); 1341 (mail fraud); and 1343 (wire fraud). In doing so, defendants financially enriched themselves and caused a substantial financial loss to the United States.
Ángel Carrer-Rivera and Richard Rivera-Maitin charged and received payments for facilitating the approval of VA disability applications based on false information. The veterans participating in the scheme fraudulently received VA disability benefit payments.“The defendants created and executed a scheme to defraud the United States Veteran’s Benefits Administration, which administers vital programs that provide disability benefits, pension and survivor benefits, education assistance, among other benefits. These defendants exploited a program intended to assist veterans who are truly in need,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “I commend the outstanding work of the FBI and VA OIG agents and law enforcement partners who uncovered and investigated this conspiracy.”
“This case is part of a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to combat fraud and other unlawful conduct committed by predatory claims companies or individuals against veterans and VA,” said David Spilker, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the US Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Southeast Field Office, Criminal Investigations Division (CID). “Entities involved in these schemes often are unaccredited and make false or fraudulent promises to obtain or increase a veteran’s VA benefits while demanding direct payment or a portion of the veteran’s benefits in exchange. These indictments and arrests highlight the VA OIG’s dedication to root out those who prey on veterans for financial gain, along with anyone who exaggerates or concocts a disability to receive or increase VA compensation benefits.”
“This investigation revealed a disgraceful scheme to defraud a system meant to serve our most vulnerable veterans. This is shameful and the FBI and our partners will not tolerate this kind of betrayal,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “I want to thank our partners at the VA Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Police of Puerto Rico, the San Juan Municipal Police, and the dedicated FBI case team for their outstanding work. The FBI remains committed to identifying and dismantling fraud that steals from the American people and dishonors those who served.”
The defendants and their roles in the conspiracy are:
• [1] Ángel Carrer-Rivera, is a resident of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, who started working at the VA in January 2009. In February 2020, he was promoted to VA Coach where he supervised eighteen Rating Veteran Service Representatives (RVSA) who adjudicated (granted, denied, confirmed, and continuing) veteran disability claims.
• [2] Richard Rivera-Maitin, is a resident of Morovis, Puerto Rico, the owner of an auto repair business, and a veteran but not employed by the VA. He identified veterans who did not have a 100% disability rating and offered to help them obtain a 100% rating for an upfront cash fee plus a percentage of any backpay the veteran received. Rivera-Maitin instructed veterans exactly what false information to provide when attending medical evaluations and completing their disability application paperwork. Rivera-Maitin assisted, among others, veterans charged in the indictment to fraudulently obtain significant disability ratings:
• [3] Victor García-Soto – a veteran who fraudulently obtained a 100% disability rating.
• [4] Brenda García acted as a facilitator between co-conspirators and was the wife of [3] Victor García-Soto, mother of [5] Gabriel García, and sister of [6] Randolph Báez.
• [5] Gabriel García – a veteran and police officer who fraudulently obtained a 100% disability rating.
• [6] Randolph Báez – a veteran and commercial flight attendant who fraudulently obtained a 60% disability rating.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Anderson from the Financial Fraud & Public Corruption Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
– Initial Report 2:50 PM-
Haines City, FL — The Haines City Police Department’s second in command, Captain Gabe Garcia, was arrested Thursday morning at the police station, according to WFLA. The arrest, which took place before 10 a.m., was carried out by federal law enforcement.
A spokesperson for the police department stated that the allegations against Garcia are related to his personal life. Garcia, who has served with the Haines City Police Department since 2007, holds the position of captain, the second highest rank in the department, which does not have a deputy police chief, per the city’s website.
Further details regarding the nature of the allegations have not been disclosed. The investigation is ongoing, and federal authorities have not yet released additional information. Nothing further at this time.
