Washington — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs official John H. Windom, 64, has been charged in connection with an alleged scheme to conceal gifts received from contractors while overseeing a multibillion-dollar federal project.
Federal prosecutors allege Windom, a member of the Senior Executive Service and former Executive Director of the Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization, failed to disclose thousands of dollars in cash, casino chips, gift cards, and other benefits tied to contractors working on the VA’s $16 billion electronic health records initiative.
The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, alongside officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
According to a federal indictment, Windom allegedly accepted—and at times solicited—valuable gifts between 2017 and 2021 while directing one of the largest information technology modernization efforts in the federal government. Prosecutors say he then concealed those benefits from ethics officials and the public, despite a legal obligation to report them.
“This conduct represents a serious breach of public trust and undermines confidence in programs serving our nation’s veterans,” Pirro said in a statement.
Windom faces three counts, including concealment of material facts, false statements, and falsification of records. The most serious charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, while additional counts could add further penalties.
Investigators say the case highlights concerns about conflicts of interest within large federal contracting programs. Officials with the VA Inspector General emphasized that accountability applies to all employees, regardless of rank.
Authorities noted that the indictment is an allegation, and Windom is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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