Posted on 10/08/2007 5:45:10 AM PDT by KeyLargo
Fraud busters on rise against fake veterans
Web, federal law help to expose military charlatans
By Russell Working, Tribune staff reporter Freelancer Matt Baron contributed to this report
October 8, 2007
When Douglas E. Robinson showed up in Yorkville saying he was a homeless Vietnam veteran who had lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, the American Legion post took pity on a former comrade in arms, giving him nearly $400 and paying for a few nights' lodging.
But Robinson and his wife's aggressive demands for money and slip-ups in his story led Kendall County sheriff's deputies to investigate. It turned out he had never served in the military, officials allege.
Robinson was lodged in Kendall County Jail last week on charges of stealing government-supported property and fraud in seeking veterans' benefits. The allegations, if true, are part of a rising flood of cases nationwide in which officials and private sleuths -- aided by the Internet and a new federal law -- are exposing hustlers and charlatans who claim benefits or honors that aren't theirs.
Fraud busters, many of them infuriated veterans, could get a boost in their efforts under a bill introduced Wednesday in Congress that would create a publicly searchable database of the nation's top medals, making it easier for police, reporters and officials to verify claims.
The bill, sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Salazar (D-Colo.), follows up on December's Stolen Valor Act, which expanded federal authority to prosecute those who falsely claim or display military honors.
The crimes are not victimless, say the determined sleuths who spend hours scanning the Internet and filing Freedom of Information Act requests to expose glory hogs. Phonies warp the historical record, scam taxpayers of millions of dollars and in some cases even put troops in the field at risk......
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Salazar (D-Colo.)
..wow an old school Dem!
The Tribune is going to get a nasty letter from Harry Reid.
“Fake veterans” . . . . ??
PC speech for “phoney soldiers”??!!
Don’t let Harry Reid hear about this.
> Very unusual for the Chicago “Lib-une” to publish such an article. Especially since MSM is in the pocket of the Dims and Harry Reid.
I think you do the Tribune a grave disservice: I’ve been a regular reader of the ‘Trib for nearly 20 years, and correspond regularly with several of their columnists.
They tend to report the news in a fair and even-handed manner, and have a healthy balance between Liberal and Conservative viewpoints.
I generally use the Tribune as a good and reliable instrument to see how “how the winds are blowing” in US public opinion, and have found it to be unfailingly accurate.
Anyrate, that’s not why I am posting. The article says:
>> The crimes are not victimless, say the determined sleuths who spend hours scanning the Internet and filing Freedom of Information Act requests to expose glory hogs. Phonies warp the historical record, scam taxpayers of millions of dollars and in some cases even put troops in the field at risk......
These scam artists indeed do all of this, plus a whole lot more.
They use their phony “credentials” to gain access to positions of trust, which they then abuse — often to criminal ends. Senior positions of trust that they would otherwise have no access to except for the lies and phony credentials.
“Stolen valor” is often an excellent marker-crime for deeper dishonesty in other areas of their lives: it is a fraud, after all. Fraudsters tend not to be fraudsters only in one area of their lives: they tend to be uniformly dishonest, so chances are they are doing something else dodgy as well.
I wish I had a dollar for every Volunteer Candidate who sought to join our Guardian Angels Chapters in NZ by claiming to be “ex-SAS” or “ex-Navy Seal” or “ex-Marines” — naturally, I would give my left nut to have a real one join us.
Yet not one real one ever has. I’ve had plenty of crims try, tho’. These people must think I am credulous, and will never check: it is very easy to do. Yet obviously lots of people don’t check, when they should.
And so I encourage everyone to check whenever someone makes big claims of valor. It is easy enough to do, and if you need help doing it, FReepmail me.
*DieHard*
I went to pownetwork.org. Unbelievable.
Read some of the disgusting “apologies”. They now claim victim status as a result of having been exposed as phonies, their lives are now ruined, can’t sleep at night, yada yada yada.
I think I will donate to pownetwork.org. They are doing wonderful work.
I was reading the same things...that ol’ ‘speedaddiction’ from FR was on there...
They still exist! BUMP!!!!
Speedaddiction. LMAO.
I remember that phony.
What does it mean when the apology is void?
I love that site. Having a down day? Feeling kind of sorry for yourself? Go onto that site, and you won’t feel bad for long, because at least you’re better than one of those losers.
Some favorites include Karczewski, and Martinez, Manuel, “Manny”.
They’ve apologized, but then go back to lying about their status.
Isn’t it a federal offense to falsely wear US military medals?
Reading on he started posted fake information again on cycleforums. Never thought that guy ever told the truth about anything. LMAO.
Related with EXCELLENT posts:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1907417/posts
Accused Phony War Hero in Court Today in Texas
That dude didn’t pass the smell test from day one.
Ping me if DITHF shows up. ;)
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