Woman indicted in veterans’ benefits fraud after she died

Federal prosecutors discovered a Springfield woman indicted this week on suspicion of embezzling more than $288,000 from disabled veterans’ benefits had died four days earlier.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment Tuesday against Beverly Sue Wright. Shortly after the charges were announced, prosecutors were told Wright died on Friday.

U.S. Attorney’s spokesman Don Ledford said the indictment was presented to the grand jury Tuesday morning before anyone was notified of Wright’s death. The office was closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Day.

After federal prosecutors receive a death certificate, a motion will be filed to dismiss the indictment.

Prosecutors alleged Wright embezzled the money while working as a legal custodian for veterans who were not able to handle their finances.