A Lynn man was sentenced this week in connection with stealing nearly $80,000 in veteran benefits.

John Ladd, 73, was sentenced to one year of probation with the first six months to be served in home confinement, and ordered to pay $79,958 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Ladd pleaded guilty to stealing public money in August of this year.

Ladd’s neighbor was receiving monthly veteran benefits when she died in 2009; however, the VA was not properly notified of the death and her benefits each month continued to be deposited into her bank account. Ladd had been assisting his neighbor before her death, and this enabled him to access her checkbook.

Although Ladd was not entitled to his neighbor’s veteran benefits, he routinely wrote checks to himself from his neighbor’s account after her death, forging her signature on each check. Ladd then deposited the checks into his own bank accounts.