A disbarred attorney accused of misappropriating $34,411 from a disabled veteran said financial problems led him to take the money, which was repaid by his insurance company.

Robert Bruce Ralston, 75, of Evans City was indicted Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh on a charge of misappropriation by a fiduciary for allegedly authorizing 44 checks to withdraw the money from March 2017 to March 2018 from the beneficiary account of a veteran identified only as E.M. in court documents.

He used the money to pay phone and medical bills, and mortgage payments, according to the indictment.

Ralston was disbarred as an attorney effective Nov. 17, 2020, according to the state Supreme Court disciplinary board. The board’s order does not include a reason for the disbarment, but indicates he resigned. He had been practicing law since October 1975.

On Wednesday, he said he has served as a fiduciary since the late 1980s, and was asked by the Department of Veterans Affairs to serve as a fiduciary for E.M., who he didn’t previously know.

“I’m not sure what the purpose is of the indictment because restitution has been made. I thought it was all over with,” Ralston said Wednesday. “There was no harm done to the veteran. I was bonded and an insurance company paid the VA. The VA said they wouldn’t pursue charges. We settled. There was a settlement.”

He said he hasn’t been arrested, served with a summons or notified in any way about the indictment. The VA’s inspector general’s office conducted the investigation that led to the indictment, according to U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung. Ralston’s arraignment is scheduled for March 15 before federal Judge Maureen P. Kelly.

“I had some financial problems, and that’s what caused it,” Ralston said.

He said the VA asked him to serve as E.M.’s fiduciary in 1990 because his family wasn’t able to take care of his money. He said E.M. was mentally incapacitated.

In addition, Ralson said he was disbarred at the age of 74 after 45 years of practice.

“I’m now living on Social Security and food stamps. I live in public housing in Evans City. My wife is in Sunnyview with Alzheimer’s. I’m most concerned about my wife and her safety,” Ralson said.

The VA’s fiduciary program is designed to protect veterans and beneficiaries who are unable to manage their VA benefits. The VA interviews prospective fiduciaries, reviews their credit reports, checks their criminal backgrounds and interviews character witnesses, according to the VA.

The VA only will determine an individual to be unable to manage his or her financial affairs after receipt of medical documentation, or if a court of competent jurisdiction has already made the determination, according to the VA.

The VA said it appoints fiduciaries, but the beneficiary usually selects the fiduciary. Generally, family members or friends serve as fiduciaries for beneficiaries, but the VA will look for fiduciaries when friends or family are not able to serve, according to the VA.