MINNEAPOLIS -- A St. Cloud man has been indicted on federal theft charges for allegedly stealing veterans' benefits.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 51-year-old Mitchell Pederson stole benefits paid to surviving spouses of veterans who died in military action. The benefits were paid to Pederson's mother who died in 2004.  Records show Pederson took the money from June of 2006 until June of 2010.

The indictment alleges Pederson continued to collect the benefits and deposit them into his account even though they should have been terminated.

He is charged with one count of stealing government funds. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

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