Man Admits Concealing Death of Disabled Veteran for Years to Steal Government Benefits

ST. LOUIS - A convicted felon from Salem, Missouri on Friday admitted neglecting his uncle, a U.S. Army veteran with quadriplegia, for years and then concealing his death to fraudulently obtain $1.8 million in his uncle's disability benefits.

Brian K. Ditch, 45, pleaded guilty to four felony counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Ditch was solely responsible for his uncle's care beginning in 2008. Instead of properly caring for his uncle, Ditch kept him locked away and subjected him to insufficient care and verbal abuse. After fraudulently gaining access to his uncle's financial accounts, Ditch regularly wired himself money. When his uncle died around 2019, Ditch concealed his death from relatives, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration so that he could continue to steal his uncle's money. Ditch hid the body in a shed behind his house, telling relatives that he had moved his uncle into a nursing home and police that his uncle was living with another caregiver.

Since 2008, the VA's Disability Compensation program deposited approximately $1.6 million into his account. Ditch's uncle also received a total of $235,210 in benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Ditch used the money for personal purchases, including exotic reptiles and firearms. As a convicted felon, Ditch is barred from possessing firearms.

Ditch is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The felon in possession charge is punishable by up to 15 years and the same fine. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory penalty of two years in prison, consecutive to any other charge.

The Salem Police Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.