GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison on Wednesday for his role in a multi-year conspiracy to traffic stolen diabetic test strips from the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that 45-year-old Steven William Anderson, Junior of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou.
Totten said, “Anderson trafficked stolen goods while pocketing thousands of dollars in ill-gotten gain. Not only did Anderson steal from the government, but he diverted medical products intended for veterans who faithfully served our nation. Today’s sentence brings a measure of justice for taxpayers and those who serve the United States in uniform.”
A jury found Anderson guilty last June of all 12 charges against him following a three-day trial.
He was convicted of trafficking over 7,900 boxes of stolen diabetic test strips worth over $427,000. Anderson’s co-conspirators, 53-year-old Jennifer Robertson of Battle Creek and 57-year-old Michelle McAllister of Jerome both pled guilty and were sentenced to prison last year.
According to a news release from Totten’s office, the United States expects to receive a total recovery from Anderson of more than $1.6 million. He agreed to pay over $1.2 million to resolve the government’s civil claims arising from his misconduct. He was ordered to pay the full value of the stolen diabetic test strips he trafficked as part of his criminal judgment.
Robertson was employed at the Battle Creek VA Pharmacy. Beginning in June 2017, she stole diabetic test strips from pharmacy inventory and arranged to meet McAllister and sell them for cash. McAllister in turn sold and shipped them to Anderson in Pennsylvania. Their scheme unraveled when Robertson was caught stealing in November of 2019.
All three co-conspirators were convicted and agreed to civil penalty settlements.
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