AUGUSTA, Ga. – A VA employee will spend more than two years in prison for falsifying the medical records of more than 2,700 veterans, putting the health of all of these patients at risk.
Evidence presented against 51-year-old Cathedral Henderson revealed the employee of Veterans Affairs and former Chief of Non-VA Care Coordination at the Charlie VA Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, intentionally terminated unresolved consults -- medical appointments that had not been scheduled or completed -- as "patient refused services or services provided." When confronted, agents then say Henderson lied to investigators about his actions.
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"This VA employee held a position of trust, but elected to manipulate veterans' medical records to give the false appearance that the number of unfulfilled consult appointments was lower than the actual backlog, putting veterans at risk," said Michael J. Missal, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
"Our VA officials and employees are entrusted with the health and welfare of some of the most honorable and vulnerable in our nation - our veterans. This Defendant's actions weakened our nation's confidence in the agency empowered to care for its veterans," said United States Attorney Ed Tarver. "This U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to end corruption wherever it appears."
Henderson was sentenced October 20 by a United States District Judge in Augusta to 27 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release.