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Mar
11
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Talk about identity theft. A Palm Springs man was sentenced with a year of probation, ordered to undergo mental health counseling and a $250 fine after he was charged with impersonating a U. S. Marine. He was wearing medals he never earned.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that the man arrived at his 20-year class reunion dressed as a Marine covered with all types of medals, including the Navy Cross, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. The FBI said he wore a lieutenant colonel’s insignia and told friends he spent a career in the service. One of his classmates, a U.S. Navy commander made an official inquiry and discovered the man was never in the Marines or any branch of the Armed Forces.
The 39-year old pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge recently after violating a federal statute that prohibits the unauthorized display of military medals. It seems he purchased most of the medals on eBay and a military surplus store.
His attorney is claiming that because of the media, he lost his job as an information technology specialist at a local bank.