Army Veteran Charged in Disability Fraud After Disappearing in Fake River Death

A man from Maine, facing allegations of pilfering over $244,000 in veterans' disability benefits, orchestrated an elaborate scheme to fake his own drowning close to the Canadian border. His evasion came to an end more than a year later when federal authorities apprehended him at a train station in Missouri.

Gregory P. Heimann Jr., aged 51 and hailing from Forest City Township, was apprehended on August 21 in La Plata, Missouri, following over a year on the run, as reported by the U.S. Marshals Service. Heimann, a veteran of both the Army and the Army National Guard, faced indictment in October 2024 on allegations of making false statements to the government, with prosecutors claiming he fraudulently collected VA disability payments over several years.

Officials report that Heimann made false assertions about using a wheelchair since 2004, claiming he was incapable of walking or standing. However, authorities documented his activities, observing him walking, shopping, driving, and even participating in public altercations. In a revealing moment from 2019, surveillance footage from Washington state documented an altercation where he was seen pushing and punching a neighbor, as detailed in court filings.

Armed with evidence demonstrating his ability to walk unaided, federal agents approached Heimann in February 2024. An affidavit reveals that Heimann ultimately acknowledged his condition had “begun to improve,” yet he persisted in using a wheelchair.

Two months later, investigators reported that Heimann departed from his home on April 19, 2024, taking a canoe filled with his belongings to a nearby river, where he subsequently disappeared. In the early stages, officials were convinced that he had succumbed to the waters, leading to an extensive search that spanned several days. Authorities quickly labeled the circumstances surrounding the disappearance as suspicious.

Ten days later, the VA's Office of Inspector General issued a warrant for Heimann's arrest, but he was nowhere to be found. He evaded capture for a time but was ultimately apprehended at the Amtrak station in La Plata, located approximately 165 miles northeast of Kansas City. Authorities reported that Heimann initially presented a false identity, but they eventually recognized him correctly.

Federal prosecutors claim that Heimann has been receiving full disability payments since 2009, following a determination of being 100% disabled. Records indicate that since 2016, the VA has disbursed over $244,000 to him, based exclusively on his assertion of losing the use of both feet.

Heimann's military journey began in the U.S. Army, where he served from 1993 to 1997, and he continued with the Army National Guard until 2005. The federal defender assigned by the court has yet to provide any comments in response to inquiries.

Heimann will return to Maine to face charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine.

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