An Antrim man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to faking a disability to improperly receive $662,871.77 in veterans benefits.

According to a statement from U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young’s office, Christopher Stultz, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements, after having been charged Sept. 13, 2023. 

From January 2003 through December 2022, Stultz falsely represented to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that he was no longer able to use his feet. This caused the VA to rate him as 100% disabled, increasing his monthly VA benefits. 

In addition, because the VA believed Stultz was unable to use his feet, he was also awarded funding through the VA’s Automobile Adaptive Equipment program to purchase special cars and vehicle adaptations designed to help mobility-impaired veterans. 

However, Stultz did not need a wheelchair or other ambulatory device to move around. According to the statement, he was seen and recorded walking normally multiple times.

For example, on Oct. 28, 2021, Stultz went to the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain in Boston. He used a wheelchair while inside the VA facility, but after leaving, he stood up, lifted the wheelchair into his car and drove off to a shopping mall, where he walked normally through multiple stores. 

On Oct. 3, 2022, Stultz went to the VA Medical Center in Manchester, again using the wheelchair while inside. After leaving the VA facility, Stultz drove to the Mall of New Hampshire and was recorded walking normally through multiple stores. In addition, multiple witnesses reported that they had never known Stultz to use a wheelchair or other ambulatory devices as far back as the early 2000s. 

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for May 6. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than five years in prison and three years of supervised release.