LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The founder of a Louisville military veteran’s nonprofit has been indicted by a federal grand jury for improperly taking unemployment benefits.

In an indictment unsealed Wednesday, Jeremy Harrell, CEO of Veteran’s Club Inc., is charged with wrongfully taking over $100,000 in benefits.

Harrell began receiving unemployment benefits from Veterans Affairs in 2011, according to the indictment. To be eligible for the benefits, a veteran must “be unable to maintain substantial gainful employment,” because of service-connected disabilities. Harrell served in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2004 and later, the Army Reserve.

He founded Veteran’s Club in January 2019 as a nonprofit to help veterans through connection, healing, recovery, housing assistance and job training.

The charges state that Harrell was informed by the VA to notify the department if there was any change in condition affecting his right to continued benefits, both in his original application and in a letter to him in February 2019. Despite that, Harrell was “actively involved” in the operations of the Veteran’s Club, at times working over 40 hours a week.

The indictment claims Harrell actively took steps to hide his work activity. In one instance, when asked how frequently he participated in veterans’ activities, he responded, “It is not a regular thing, just occasionally.”

The indictment also shows he made false claims in documents and interviews that were inconsistent with his work and activities with the Veteran’s Club. For example, Harrell claimed symptoms of severe post-traumatic stress disorder restricted his public activities and limited his socializing abilities, which he said caused him to be a “loner,” and withdrawn, and to feel “more comfortable” staying in his home.

He failed to reveal he was giving interviews on various media platforms, speaking publicly at events and meeting with political, community and business leaders as part of his work for the organization.

Since late January 2019, the indictment alleges Harrell has been ineligible for the benefit and has fraudulently received over $100,000 in benefits. He faces charges of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. Harrell has pleaded not guilty and is expected back in court in January. We reached out to Harrell and his lawyer but did not hear back.