Veterans Affairs Senior Executive Charged With Concealing Gifts and Cash Received from Government Contractors
WASHINGTON / Wednesday, March 25, 2026 – John H. Windom, 64, a member of the Senior Executive Service who previously served as Executive Director of the Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization (OEHRM) in the Department of Veterans Affairs, has been charged in relation to his alleged failure to disclose his receipt of thousands of dollars in cash, casino chips, gift cards, and other gifts from contractors while leading the project.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Veterans Affairs Inspector General Cheryl L. Mason.
“As alleged, the defendant exploited his senior position for personal gain and concealed gifts and financial relationships that created serious conflicts of interest in the health care of our nation’s veterans,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Such conduct is not only a betrayal of the public trust—it undermines confidence in the institutions dedicated to serving those who have sacrificed for this country. Our office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute public corruption wherever it occurs, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the integrity of the programs that support America’s veterans.”
According to the three-count Indictment issued today, between 2017 and 2021, while Windom was leading the $16 billion acquisition and deployment of the VA’s Electronic Health Records solution, then one of the largest information technology contracts in the federal government, he concealed from the VA, executive branch ethics officials, and the public that he was also accepting, and sometimes demanding, extravagant gifts from a group of contractors and subcontractors who worked on the project he was overseeing.
The Indictment charges Windom with Concealment of Material Facts, False Statements, and Falsification of a Record or Document in relation to his failure to report his receipt of such gifts, which he had a legal duty to do.
“This indictment sends a clear message that the VA OIG is committed to holding individuals accountable, including VA employees who are alleged to have misused their position of public trust for personal gain,” said Inspector General Mason. “The VA OIG thanks the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this investigation.”
The charge of falsification of records and documents carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The charge of making false statements carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for each count. The charges also carry potential financial penalties. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes.
Investigating this case are the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Miller.
An Indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Source:
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia
