Category: Phony soldiers

A number of folks sent us links to the news that Christian Desgroux plans to plead guilty for impersonating an Army general in order to impress a lady;

The strange case against Christian Desgroux unfolded after authorities say he unexpectedly had a charter helicopter pilot land on a soccer field last November at the sprawling corporate campus of SAS Institute in Cary. Wearing a military battle uniform, Desgroux told a security officer who confronted him that he was there to pick up a female employee to take her to Fort Bragg for a classified briefing authorized by President Donald Trump, according to federal agents.

After he was charged with a federal count of pretending to be a military officer, his attorney requested that the 58-year-old undergo a psychological evaluation. A Homeland Security agent previously testified that investigators suspected Desgroux was mentally ill.

Desgroux was examined at a federal prison facility in California, and a psychiatric report was filed under seal with the court in May, according to court records.

It’s not clear exactly what the report says, but his attorney wrote in a court filing last Thursday that his client won’t object to the conclusion that he was legally sane at the time.

The defense attorney, Andrew McCoppin, also wrote that his client plans to plead guilty to the charge against him.

He is looking at three years in prison, but his lawyer will probably ask for “time served” – he’s been in federal custody for five months.

Desgroux later admitted that he never served in the military. [Special Agent Tony] Bell testified that a female acquaintance of Desgroux expected him to arrive in a car for a visit, but instead they went on a 30-minute helicopter ride around Raleigh. The agent said Desgroux wanted to pursue a romantic relationship, but the woman is married.

She and the pilot appear to have been swept up in Desgroux’s strange behavior and were not charged.

Someone sent us their work on this Martin Charles Gureski fellow. He passed away last month and his family wrote this in his obituary;

In August of 1962, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served for four years on the East Coast from Little Creek Virginia Naval Base. Martin’s training at Great Lakes Naval Base in Gurney, IL earned him a license as a first-class electrician. During his service on the USS Ashland, he was on the underwater demolition team, and in 1963, he was enlisted in the 2nd Navy Seal Team organized by President Kennedy where he participated in many important missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Yes, he was in the Navy, he was stationed on the USS Ashland (LSD-1) which was based at Little Creek, Virginia and spent most of the time he was aboard in the Caribbean. Martin left the Navy as an electrician’s mate (E-4). But, no he was never a SEAL, nor did he participate in SEAL Training, nor did the USS Ashland participate in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Since there is nothing that ties Martin to the SEAL claims, it can be reasonably assumed that the family misunderstood aspects of his carer when they wrote the obituary.

Aussiepusser sends us a link to the story of Kenneth Franks whose house was raided by Australian authorities after he came to their attention on Anzac Day parading about in unearned military accoutrements;

He pleaded guilty to falsely representing to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman and improper use of service decorations.
Franks had a conviction recorded.

When contacted, he said he did not want to comment, other than to say he had recently lost a family member, his head was “not in the right spot” and he had “hit the drugs pretty hard”.

Locals said the 49-year-old moved to the area about two years ago and showed up to this year’s Anzac Day dawn service wearing about 10 medals on his chest, claiming he was an ex-SAS soldier.

Goondiwindi Returned and Services League vice-president Bill Brasington said Franks originally came to the attention of the branch when he visited Anzac badge-sellers on the street, wearing a Special Air Service Regiment badge on his hat.

“He said he was an SAS fella and had been deployed everywhere, everywhere overseas — you name it, but he said it was all a secret,” he said.

The organization could find no record of Franks ever serving in the military. He was fined $1000.

Someone sent us their work on this Heeather MacKay person who claims that she’s an Air Force veteran in Strong Fitness Magazine;

Heather Mackay was a 22-year-old firefighter in the US military when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Her disease, she was told, was caused when small brain injuries during her service activated a rare gene mutation that causes cancer cells to produce rapidly. She was given a medical discharge and underwent chemotherapy and radiation, then finally brain surgery, during which, she slipped into a coma.

When she woke up, Heather had no recollection of the last seven years. She didn’t remember anything about herself, including her one-year-old son and four-year-old daughter. She had also lost the ability to walk and talk. She had to start from scratch. Within a month or two, her memories of her family started to return, but she would spend the next year and a half in rehabilitation re-learning everything from speaking to using a fork to feed herself.

After rehab, Heather returned to the military as a K9 handler, but a year and a half later she experienced symptoms of sickness and lethargy. “As a military person, you don’t want to admit weaknesses,” recalls Heather. “Back then it was really hush-hush. You didn’t come out and say when things were wrong.”

When asked for her military records, the Air Force and the National Personnel Records Center responded “Who?”

According to the Orange County Register, Roger Giese, who skipped out right before his trial on charges of being a tickle monster, will be extradited from the UK to face those charges.

He was a choirmaster who molested boys in the choir for years – and oh, yeah – he pretended to be a member of the elite Delta Force;

Prosecutors said Giese befriended the boy’s family in 1998, attending church with them and inviting the boy and his brother to his house for overnight visits.

Giese pretended to be a member of the elite military unit Delta Force and molested the teenager under the pretense that the boy could join the unit by providing samples of bodily fluids, prosecutors said.

He was arrested in 2002 and released on bond. He appeared in court until March 2007, shortly before his trial in Orange County Superior Court. Giese cleaned out his bank accounts, authorities said, and fled the country.

He is facing charges including lewd acts on a child under 14, penetration by a foreign object, and oral copulation of a person under 18, with a sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct with a child.

It’s funny (odd funny not ha-ha funny) that so many of these valor thieves are child molesters.

WISC reports that Howard Gordon Clewell, the historian of the Wisconsin Department of the American Legion and the husband of the Department Commander, resigned his position when he was busted for wearing badges that he didn’t earn while he was in the Army;

Howard Gordon Clewell served in the U.S. Army decades ago, but numerous pictures submitted to Legion officials recently showed him wearing a hat displaying a Special Forces Pin, a Ranger tab, a Special Forces Unit Patch, a Combat Infantryman Badge and Master Parachutist Wings that he did not earn during his time in the service. He was serving as the Legion’s historian when he gave up his position and his membership with the Legion.

[…]

“Unfortunately, Mr. Clewell embellished his military service and was caught,” wrote Amber Nikolai, the department adjutant, of The American Legion in Wisconsin, in an email to News 3. “When (he) was questioned about his military service and whether he had earned the badges/insignias displayed on his cap in photographs, he immediately offered an apology, tendered his resignation and canceled his membership with the American Legion.”

At least in Wisconsin, veterans are vigilant in regards to stolen valor.

The reporter, Adam Schrager, sends us an update to the story, his wife’s point of view;

“(He) had built a stellar veteran career on a foundation of lies–that he had not only fought in Vietnam in Special Forces but that he had received meals for his heroics,” she wrote. “ALL lies and he finally admitted he has been lying since high school.”

“Howard Clewell was actually an Army veteran who was stationed in Germany as a caseworker. He dropped this bomb, packed his bags and walked out of our lives.”

[…]

Laurel Clewell, meanwhile, said any assertion she “should have known” is misguided and that she’s disappointed by how she’s been treated within Legion circles, even by her mentors, as a result. She said she has been fighting cancer this year and that battle gives her the strength to persevere.

“(His) deceit and lies have affected my kids, grandkids, family and friends,” she wrote. “I will never recover from the lies and the disrespect that Howard has shown the veterans who work hard to accomplish what he has stolen.

“In the end, all I have is the truth. I’ve survived cancer this year, a difficult work environment and now the epic lies of a life partner. At this point, I don’t much care who believes me. I’ll live.”

Someone sent us the above forged CAC card which accomapanied several emails and the following photos. It appears that the young lady in the photo is a real soldier, that her last name is Arnett and she’s a Private First Class;

I’ve been unable to find her with a reverse image search. But she probably ought to know that someone has snagged her photos and they’re using them in a scam. I left the email in so you can get a part of that $4 million;

From: SHARON GALLAGHER
Date: 2018-06-07 11:42 GMT+02:00
Subject: FROM SHARON
To:

Hello dear,
How is your day going ,I will like to know you better and i want to tell you more about myself too. I am Captain Sharon Arnett Gallagher 35 years old from the South Eastern State of the United State (Kentucky), I am 36 years old I am a soldier working as United Nations peace keeping troop in Afghanistan on war against terrorism ,I am really doing the best i can to keep most soldiers that are injured alive, and it is really not an easy task but as a Captain in the medical department i make sure i do the best i can and leave the rest for God. I graduated from the 32D Medical Brigade.

It would be my pleasure to know more about you and i believe we can establish a good friendship. I want to tell you everything about myself and i hope you going to do same. I will tell you more about myself in the next message and have a Dog name Billy he is a good friend too. i love traveling and singing too and i have been to Italy and some other European countries too.

I have attached some of my photos with this message, do send some of your pictures too if you have a free time and tell me more about yourself too, i will be signing off now because i have to go for my Military base security routine.

Regards,

Captain Sharon Arnett Gallagher

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: SHARON GALLAGHER
Date: 2018-06-08 10:55 GMT+02:00
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED
To:
Hello my dear , It is nice having you here as friend which i know will yield a positive result Like i said before, I am Captain Sharon Gallagher 36 years old from the South Eastern State of the United State (Kentucky) serving in Kabul Afghanistan, I am working with the United States Air Force peace keeping troop in Afghanistan, on war against terrorism.

I want to share this secret with you believing your assistance will help me achieve my aim of this relationship, because I have plans to resign from the army and start a normal life free from risk and unpredictable death, we are living in constant fear here in Afghanistan that is the reason I have choose you to tell you this secret to assist me. I have in my possession the sum of $4 million (Four million united states dollars) Which i made here in Afghanistan during one of our mission in Kabul.

I deposited this money with a Courier company after i discovered it and i am the only person that knows about this money. I want you to stand as my beneficiary to receive the funds and keep it safe until am able to meet you. I am in an urgent need to move this money out from here because they are planning to move some troop out of Afghanistan and i am among. Now i am left with no option than to move this money to a safe place, that is why i contacted you very urgently.

I would have contacted my families back in the States but i have to be very honest with you, i lost them due to the September 11 2001 attack on America soil and that was the main reason i joined the army to fight terrorism secondly if i send this box to a relative i will bequestioned how i got about the box because i soldier in the mission have no right to send things home so that is why i choose i foreign partner who we can work together.

You will assist me to invest in a good profitable venture, I will give you 20% of the funds for your assistance after you have receive the money as a way to show you my appreciation. Kindly reply back to me if you are willing to work with me so that i can arrange with the Courier company to deliver the money in your country. Your positive feedback is highly needed urgently before i proceed.

PLEASE DO NOT BETRAY ME AS I HUMBLY PLEADS WITH YOU

Yours faithfully,
Captain Sharon Gallagher

From: SHARON GALLAGHER
Date: 2018-06-11 9:38 GMT+02:00
Subject: Please send your information
To: XXXX

Dear Friend XXX,
How are you doing hope you are fine i am very much happy to read your mail and i want to thank you for your willingness to assist me in receiving the consignment box which contain the money to your country i wish to tell you that everything about this is safe

I know i could always count on you and i am assuring you that no harm is attached to this ok and i will like you to keep everything about this as a secret because you and me are the only people that know about this money

All i need now is a reliable person who will receive this box and i am happy with your interest to help me receive this box and also assist me invest it in your country when i come over

You must understand that the success of this transaction will depend on our total mutual trust and you must promise that you will keep it secret within yourself. I want everything to be clear to you. please read carefully. The deal is all about the money I made here, and I have it kept safely in a box which I deposited with a United Nation Agent for safe keeping.

Due to the news about the United State of America here in Afghanistan, there is a plan to move some troops out of Afghanistan and I am among the people that will be moving out, I cannot take this money with me to wherever they would post us. For this reason, I have made an arrangement for a diplomat agent to move this fund. The question is who will be in charge of the money at my absence? This is exactly why I need your help. I want to guarantee you that you will not stand any risk in this as I have mapped out the strategy to have this box moved out of here safely Through Diplomatic means. You have to keep everything confidential till you receive the fund as a consignment.

Finally, I want you to stand as the beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe so that as soon as you receive the box containing the funds I will take a two weeks leave and we will meet and you can deliver it back to me. I will happily give you 20% of the total money for the assistance after you have receive the money. I believe I can trust you as l strongly hope that you will never disappoint me. After they have assigned us to a different country, I will take a two weeks off break and travel down to meet you.

Please send your information s o that I can make proper arrangements on how you will receive the funds through a Diplomatic agent.

Your Full Name ………………………… ……

Your Address together with your city ………………………… …..

Your Phone Number ………………………… …….

Your Occupation ………………………… …..

Scan copy of Your Any National id ………………………… ……

Yours Sincerely,

Captain Sharon Gallagher

Someone sent us their work on this Brett Tutor fellow. He’s a carpenter on The Learning Channel’s Trading Spaces. He also claims that he spent a year in the Air Force and trained as a pararescueman, known in military circles as a PJ. From his bio;

Brett enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 21 and was put in charge of a 60-man basic training squad on his first day of training. He was accepted into the Pararescue Special Operations program but was unable to complete his training or be deployed after tearing his Achilles tendon during his first year with the elite team.

After his medical discharge, he returned to Austin and completed carpentry school and EMT school simultaneously while working as a carpenter.

Brett isn’t being completely honest about his service. He spent four months and 14 days in the Air Force from February 2007 – July 2007 after six months on the Delayed Entry Program. Six weeks he spent in Air Force Basic Military Training, the other few weeks was time Tutor spent training to to be a PJ, but then suddenly, he was discharged;

You’ll notice down there in block 25, it says that the separation authority is AFI 36-3208 – an entry level discharge for conduct or performance;

There’s no mention of medical reasons – only a discharge for the good of the Air Force for conduct or performance.