A former department head at the VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is going to prison for stealing money from the VA — to pay for lap dances, sex and gambling.
In his role as supervisor at the Veterans Canteen Service, Glenn Bates oversaw the VCS Patriot Store, cafeteria food services and vending sales. For a period of about 6 years, prosecutors say he embezzled $314,400 in cash and property belonging to the VA.
“He stole the cash receipts of sales of commemorative military hats to veterans and others by volunteers at the VAMC,” US Attorney Barbara McQuade’s office said. “And he stole the cash receipts of several vending machines there.”
The money, they say, was being used to patronize strip clubs in neighboring Ohio, where Bates paid for lap dances and sex . He also used the stolen money to gamble at Columbus casinos, attorneys said.
“Bates deprived the VA’s Veterans Canteen Service of needed revenue.”
His employment with the agency ended in 2013, and in 2015, Bates pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing about $150,000.
This week, Bates was sentenced to over a year in prison and two years of supervised release. He’s also been ordered to pay over $314,000 in restitution to the VA.
Bates, who is 58 years old, was hired by the VA despite having a criminal record, according to the Detroit News. He served time in prison in the late 70’s for allegedly stealing a car and a few decades later he was sentenced to probation for a felony arson conviction.
The VA’s Office of Inspector General investigated this most recent embezzlement case.
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