In a case that Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman described as “one of a kind,” a Missouri man stands accused of one of the most horrifying frauds ever committed against a disabled U.S. Army veteran: exploiting, abusing, and ultimately concealing his uncle’s death in order to steal more than $650,000 in government benefits.
Federal prosecutors have indicted Brian K. Ditch, 44, of Salem, Missouri, on 11 felony charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, theft of government property, and illegal possession of firearms by a felon. Ditch allegedly imprisoned his uncle, Thomas Clubb—a quadriplegic Army veteran—inside a garage for years, leaving him to rot in filth and isolation before hiding his death for half a decade to continue siphoning VA and Social Security funds.
Clubb, who served in the Army and was paralyzed in a car crash while stationed in Germany at just 19 years old, was rated 100% service-connected disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs due to severe dementia and total loss of limb control. He received $9,559 per month in VA disability compensation, in addition to Social Security disability benefits totaling over $235,000 since 2008.
Court documents reveal that Ditch—already a convicted felon with priors for burglary and domestic battery—was his uncle’s primary caregiver since 2008. But instead of caring for him, Ditch is accused of keeping Clubb locked in his garage for 24-hour stretches, denying him basic care, food, and dignity. The indictment describes Clubb being forced “to sit in his own urine and feces” without access to food or water.
The abuse didn’t end with neglect. Prosecutors say Ditch regularly beat Clubb, and even threatened his own children to keep them from visiting their uncle. After Clubb died around 2019, Ditch reportedly told family members he had moved the veteran into a nursing home—but never provided any details. Suspicious relatives eventually tipped off the authorities, leading to a welfare check in March 2025.
That’s when police discovered the unthinkable.
Inside a garbage can in a backyard shed, Clubb’s partially frozen body was found wrapped in a trash bag—discarded like garbage. Authorities also recovered three shotguns, illegal for Ditch to possess as a felon.
According to prosecutors, Ditch continued to collect Clubb’s VA and Social Security benefits for years after his death, spending the stolen money on exotic reptiles, luxury vacations, and other personal indulgences. Between January 2019 and March 2025 alone, Ditch allegedly defrauded the government of over $650,000.
“This is an abhorrent, reprehensible crime—committed not only against a family member, but against a disabled veteran,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Wiseman. “It shows a disturbing and flagrant lack of regard for human life.”
Clubb’s niece, Angie Crowder, told local media that she had last seen her uncle in 2018 and was devastated by the discovery. The family is currently awaiting the release of his remains so they can bury him next to his parents. They’ve since launched a grassroots campaign for awareness and justice, wearing shirts that read “Justice for Tom Clubb.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, which helped investigate the case, issued a strong statement: “The VA OIG is committed to holding accountable anyone who exploits veterans or steals their benefits,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley. “These programs exist to compensate deserving veterans—and we will bring to justice those who would defraud them.”
Ditch pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on May 9 and faces additional state charges, including abandonment of a corpse. He remains under federal investigation and could face decades in prison if convicted.
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