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VA executive accused of demanding gifts in the form of cash, casino chips from contractors
VA executive accused of demanding gifts in the form of cash, casino chips from contractors
A retired Navy captain who was in charge of the VA’s health record modernization program allegedly got casino chips, cash and other gifts from contractors.
Nicholas Slayton
Published Mar 27, 2026 4:23 PM EDT
{illustration}
John Windom is accused of taking more than $1,800 in casino chips from contractors known as the "Power Group." Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Santamaria.
A Department of Veterans Affairs official who oversaw the effort to modernize VA health records was indicted this week and is accused of leveraging his position to receive gifts from a group of government contractors that he nicknamed “the Power Group.”
John Windom, 64, a retired Navy officer, was charged with making false statements, concealment of material facts and falsification of a record or document tied to a failure to report more than $15,000 in cash, casino chips and other gifts from contractors. The Justice Department announced the charges on Wednesday, accusing him of “accepting, and sometimes demanding, extravagant gifts from a group of contractors and subcontractors who worked on the project he was overseeing.” As the indictment notes, Windom was aware of the rules regarding reporting gifts and receipts, per training for officials.
“An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the Justice Department said in its release.
{snip}
Windom was allegedly given payment in everything from cash, to $8,200 in Louis Vuitton gift cards and $1,800 in casino chips. He was also given a High Efficiency Particulate Air, or HEPA, filter worth $631. The indictment also accuses Windom of using his position to “coerce” payments and gifts from others.
{snip}
A retired Navy captain who was in charge of the VA’s health record modernization program allegedly got casino chips, cash and other gifts from contractors.
Nicholas Slayton
Published Mar 27, 2026 4:23 PM EDT
{illustration}
John Windom is accused of taking more than $1,800 in casino chips from contractors known as the "Power Group." Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Santamaria.
A Department of Veterans Affairs official who oversaw the effort to modernize VA health records was indicted this week and is accused of leveraging his position to receive gifts from a group of government contractors that he nicknamed “the Power Group.”
John Windom, 64, a retired Navy officer, was charged with making false statements, concealment of material facts and falsification of a record or document tied to a failure to report more than $15,000 in cash, casino chips and other gifts from contractors. The Justice Department announced the charges on Wednesday, accusing him of “accepting, and sometimes demanding, extravagant gifts from a group of contractors and subcontractors who worked on the project he was overseeing.” As the indictment notes, Windom was aware of the rules regarding reporting gifts and receipts, per training for officials.
“An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” the Justice Department said in its release.
{snip}
Windom was allegedly given payment in everything from cash, to $8,200 in Louis Vuitton gift cards and $1,800 in casino chips. He was also given a High Efficiency Particulate Air, or HEPA, filter worth $631. The indictment also accuses Windom of using his position to “coerce” payments and gifts from others.
{snip}
1 replies
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