A Lawrence Township man has admitted to stealing more than $256,000 in benefits intended for a deceased military spouse, according to federal prosecutors.
Mark Stratton, 67, pleaded guilty on Sept. 25 before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton to one count of theft of public money, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
According to court documents, Stratton failed to notify the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that his mother had died in 2008.
As the widow of a military veteran, she had received monthly disability payments via direct deposit to a joint account that Stratton also controlled.
Federal investigators found that Stratton continued to withdraw funds from that account for personal use from December 2008 through April 2025. In total, he took approximately $256,027 in payments he was not entitled to receive.
Court filings show that each time Stratton moved, he updated the mailing address on the account to ensure he retained control of the funds.
Prosecutors said he “knew that he was not entitled [to] his mother’s VA benefits but continued to collect them fraudulently for his own use”.
Stratton faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2026.
The case was investigated jointly by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba credited both agencies, along with Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri of the VA OIG and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, for their work on the case.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Abrams of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.
In addition to prison time, Stratton will be required to forfeit any property or assets traceable to the crime, totaling $256,027, or substitute assets of equal value if the original funds cannot be recovered.
