Mass. man pleads guilty to bilking anti-suicide funds meant for veterans

CONCORD - A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to defrauding a nonprofit health care provider to obtain funds designated for reducing suicide rates among veterans.

David Duren, a/k/a Dawud Hakiem Duren, 48, pleaded guilty to wire fraud with sentencing set for for Oct.10.

Duren was a program manager for a nonprofit health care provider in Nashua where he was in charge of overseeing a program funded by a $750,000 Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide treatment and services to veterans at risk of suicide.

At Duren's recommendation, the health care provider hired a company called "E3 Foundation" to provide services funded by the Staff Sergeant Fox grant. E3 Foundation was in turn purportedly led by a "Dr. Michael Rapp." However, unbeknownst to the health care provider, Duren controlled E3 Foundation and was pretending to be "Dr. Michael Rapp" on emails and calls.

Duren was able to fraudulently obtain almost $50,000 in Staff Sergeant Fox program funds and tried to obtain an additional $25,000 before being discovered. He used a website called "Invoice Generator" to create fake invoices. Duren and E3 Foundation also did not provide the services and products that he billed for.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.