A Kissimmee woman who stole nearly $100,000 of her brother’s disabled veteran benefits to buy a BMW and other items has filed a guilty plea in federal court to theft of government funds.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Seekumarie Hardial was put in charge of her brother's Veterans Affairs benefits in 2011 and siphoned off the funds over the course of several years, court documents said.
Her brother was awarded VA disability benefits in 1980 and was declared incompetent to manage his financial affairs in 1993, investigators said.
According to a plea agreement filed Monday in federal court, Hardial’s mother was in charge of the benefits from 1993 to 2011.
While she was in charge of the funds, Hardial stole $95,500 from her brother’s account to pay off her loans and purchase a BMW, the plea agreement said.
Hardial was a civilian employee for the Orange County Corrections Department since 1988. Channel 9’s Jeff Deal learned she resigned Wednesday morning after he called the county for comment about Hardial.
She faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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