VA doctor faces federal charges

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http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090509/NEWS04/905090360/1004/NEWS03

VA doctor faces federal charges

By JOSH O’GORMAN STAFF WRITER - Published: May 9, 2009


BURLINGTON — A doctor associated with the VA Medical Center in White River Junction is facing federal conflict of interest charges related to contracts between the Veterans Affairs and Dartmouth College.

On Friday, acting U.S. Attorney Paul J. Van de Graaf charged Dr. William Weeks, 49, of Lyme, N.H., with five misdemeanor counts of violating federal law prohibiting conflicts of interest.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, in 2003, Weeks participated in five fixed-price contracts between the VA Medical Center and Dartmouth College. For each of the contracts, the charges allege, Weeks acted as both the VA representative who initiated the contracts and as Dartmouth College's principal investigator who performed the work of the contracts.

By filling both roles, the charges allege, Weeks was responsible for both making sure the work was performed and overseeing how the contract money was spent. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, a significant amount of the contract money was not used for the contracted work, but was instead deposited into a reserve account at Dartmouth College associated with Weeks.

Representatives for Dartmouth could not be reached for comment Friday night.

The investigation appears to be motivation for a lawsuit Weeks filed against the federal government April 9, which alleges his offices at the VA Hospital were searched illegally and information about the federal investigation was improperly shared with his superiors, scuttling his chance at a promotion.

According to the lawsuit, the lost promotion led Weeks to try and kill himself. Weeks could not be reached for comment Friday night.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Weeks began working at the VA Medical Center in 1992 and was still employed there in April, according to VA officials and his lawsuit. It is not clear if he is still employed by the VA. Officials with the VA could not be reached for comment Friday night.

In addition to the five-count criminal complaint, Weeks is also facing an 11-count civil complaint alleging conflict of interest, false claims and breach of fiduciary duty. If convicted of the offenses, he is facing prison time and $1.8 million in fines and penalties.