SANTA ROSA COUNTY VETERAN SENTENCED

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says a 46-year-old veteran from Santa Rosa County has been sentenced to three years probation and must pay thousands of dollars in restitution for defrauding the government of over $200,000. Bryan Gaines of Milton pleaded guilty to theft of government money and making false statements. Between 2011 and 2018, he falsely reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs that he was unable to work and received disability benefits based on those claims. Prosecutors said he was not entitled to those benefits because he was working at a car repair business. Gaines was ordered to pay $243,000 in restitution.