Criminals Empty Back Account of America’s Oldest Veteran

The identity of America’s oldest living veteran was stolen, resulting in his bank account being completely drained.

The family of 112-year-old Richard Overton discovered the issue on Thursday when one of Overton’s cousins made a deposit into the World War II veteran’s account. According to a report by CNN, there were multiple purchases of savings bonds with Treasury Direct made in recent months.

Overton’s family does not know how his social security number and personal checking account number was compromised or who the culprit is.  While the family did not disclose the exact amount stolen, they said that it was a “considerable amount.” However, the bank account is separate from the bank account tied to the GoFundMe that was launched in 2016 to help pay for Overton’s home care.

Overton currently lives in Austin, Texas. He volunteered for service in 1942. and became a member of an all-black unit, the Army’s 188th Aviation Engineer Battalion, that served on various islands in the Pacific. Overton was honored in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama during a Veterans Day ceremony.

The family notified police about the incident on Thursday afternoon, and the Austin Police Department is working closely with the Overton family.