Man gets 5 years in prison for scamming $24 million from GI Bill benefits program

By

The Associated Press

A Pennsylvania man received a five-year sentence for his involvement in a scheme that stole more than $24 million from a federal education benefits program for veterans. (Creatas/iStock)

NEWARK, N.J. — A Pennsylvania man involved in a scheme that stole more than $24 million from the Post-9/11 GI Bill program is now headed to prison.

New Jersey federal prosecutors said David Alvey received a five-year sentence Monday. The 51-year-old Harrisburg man had pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Prosecutors said Alvey and two other conspirators aggressively marketed online courses to thousands of veterans who thought they were enrolling in accredited courses taught by faculty from Caldwell University in New Jersey. But they ended up in online correspondence courses administered by an unaccredited company the firm subcontracted.

The conspirators will have to pay restitution.