The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has received information from the California Department of Justice regarding “pension poaching” – specifically related to military veterans. These incidents target the financial assistance offered through the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Program designed to assist veterans over 65 years of age. Individuals posing as insurance agents, unpaid volunteers or Veterans Affairs representatives offer to help senior veterans apply for VA pension benefits. The Sheriff’s Office recommends that all veterans remain cognizant that the VA offers a number of resources to assist them with questions or concerns regarding their benefits.

What to watch out for: Anyone who asks you to pay money or move assets in connection with applying for a VA pension benefit is likely not a VA-accredited representative. He or she may be an insurance agent or representative who receives a sales commission for selling you an annuity or irrevocable trust.

Moving assets into an annuity or irrevocable trust could restrict your access to these funds and may have significant unintended tax or legal consequences that outweigh any financial benefit gained from receiving VA pension benefits.

If you receive VA pension benefits based on false financial need, you could be required to repay any benefits received back to the government.

If you are approached by someone offering to help you apply for VA pension benefits and you would incur any costs or fees in connection with the service being offered, contact your local VA to determine whether this assistance is reputable. Be wary of sharing personal information over the phone. VA representatives will tell you what you need to know and the advice is free. Locally, you can contact:

Placerville Veterans Affairs Main Office
130 Placerville Dr. Suite #B
Placerville, CA 95667

For West Slope Appointments 530-621-5892
East Slope Appointments 530-573-7955 Ext. 5892
https://www.edcgov.us/Vetrerans

To read the full article, see http://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-issues-consumer-alert-veteran-%E2%80%9Cpension-poaching

Here is more useful information:
A directory of VA centers is available at http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/vetcenter.asp

You can also file a complaint with the California Department of Justice by visiting http://oag.ca.gov/contact/consumer-complaint-against-business-or-company.

A searchable list of VA-accredited representatives is available at http://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp or call 1-800-827-1000.

For more information about VA Aid and Attendance pension benefits, visit http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension.

Sgt. Todd Hammitt

At about 5:15 PM yesterday, the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Brooke Warner stating she was at a house in the 5400 block of Rocky Ridge Road with a male who had pulled a gun on her. She said she and her brother had the male detained but feared the male had killed her husband. When deputies arrived at the home, two people were found deceased.

The house belongs to Sandra Wallace. She lived in the home with one of her sons, 49 year-old Milo Wallace. She had a younger son, Matthew Wallace who lived in Cameron Park.

Earlier in the day, Matt Wallace drove up to assist with some work that needed to be done around the house. When Matt didn’t come home, his wife, Brooke Warner, drove to the Rocky Ridge Road address because she wasn’t able to contact him. Brooke took her brother along because of some tension between the two Wallace brothers over future inheritance of the family estate.

At the house, Brooke knocked on the door and was met by her brother-in-law Milo. Milo was armed with a gun and pointed it at her. A scuffle ensued and Brooke and her brother were able to get the gun away from Milo. They detained Milo until sheriff’s deputies arrived.

Deputies found an elderly female dead inside the home and an adult male dead outside, behind the house. Once the area was secured, detectives and CSI were called to investigate. Coroner’s detectives also responded.

Detectives detained Milo Wallace for questioning. Detectives and CSI personnel spent the night at the house and are still on the property collecting evidence.

At about 1:40 AM this morning, detectives arrested Milo Wallace on murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges. He was taken and booked into the El Dorado County Jail and is being held without bail.

The two victims were identified this afternoon as 71 year-old Sandra Wallace and 38 year-old Matthew Wallace. Both suffered gunshot wounds however the official cause of death will be determined later after a forensic autopsy. The circumstances leading to up to their deaths and how they occurred has yet to be determined and is still under investigation.

Lt. Tom Murdoch

Booking photo of Milo Wallace

On 11/06/2015 at about 1:05 AM, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 2800 block of Elmer Street in Camino for an assault. Upon arrival, an adult male was located unconscious in the driveway. Medics were called in to provide medical aid however the male passed away.

38 year-old Dennis Renk of Camino was located at the residence. He was detained and interviewed. Deputies and detectives learned that Renk and the victim had been involved in a physical altercation prior to their arrival.

Update:
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office identified the decedent as 56 year-old Langley Pratt of Camino. The cause of death is still under investigation. The suspect, Dennis Renk, is still in custody at the El Dorado County Jail.

Lt. Tom Murdoch