Western Wayne Today

A Westland woman and a Wyandotte man are among three accused of stealing about $470,000 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Michigan Department of Treasury, according to Michigan.gov.

Melissa R. Flores, 53, and Steven Decker, 32, were arraigned on charges in a scheme that used submission of a fraudulent document to support claims for VA survivor benefits and Michigan unclaimed property, according to state Attorney General Dana Nessel's statement on Michigan.gov.  

"A third individual has been charged in connection with this fraud but has not yet been arraigned," the June 1 announcement said.

The third individual was charged with conducting a criminal enterprise and multiple counts of false pretenses, according to Michigan.gov. "The identity of that individual is being withheld pending arraignment on the charges."

Flores "and a co-conspirator" are alleged to have created aliases and used fraudulent documents, including vital records such birth certificates, to pretend to be heir "to various individuals who had died," the statement said.

"Through this scheme, between 2013 and 2019, it's alleged that the two individuals obtained more than $40,000 of unclaimed property from the Michigan Department of Treasury and more than $430,000 from the VA," Michigan.gov reported.

Decker's part in the alleged scheme was to receive proceeds, a portion of which was used to conceal property utilized to carry out the fraud.

"Committing fraud against our state or federal agencies that directly give back to their communities will not be tolerated," Nessel said in the statement on Michigan.gov. "Our veterans voluntarily put their lives on the line in service to this country to protect the freedoms and liberties we as U.S. citizens enjoy. For someone to take advantage of the public benefits set aside for their families is a slap in the face to servicemen and -women across the country."

Flores is being prosecuted as a habitual offender, fourth notice, according to Michigan.gov.