{"id":146726,"date":"2023-09-02T08:24:30","date_gmt":"2023-09-02T12:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valorguardians.com\/blog\/?p=146726"},"modified":"2023-09-02T08:53:31","modified_gmt":"2023-09-02T12:53:31","slug":"former-marine-arrested-for-false-purple-heart-application-and-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/?p=146726","title":{"rendered":"‘Former Marine’ Arrested for False Purple Heart Application and Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The internet lit up like a Christmas tree yesterday with stories of Paul John \u201cPJ\u201d Herbert, 52, of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts as he now faces one count of theft of government money and one count of making false statements. These charges could land him up to 15 years in prison if he’s found guilty.<\/p>\n

Former Marine Arrested for Stealing More than $344,000 in Government Benefits and Submitting False Purple Heart Application to the United States Marine Corps Through His Local Congressman<\/strong><\/a>
\nUS Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts | September 1, 2023<\/em><\/p>\n

BOSTON \u2013 A former United States Marine has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mass. for allegedly stealing benefit payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs and submitting a false Purple Heart application to the United States Marine Corps through his local Congressman.<\/p>\n

Paul John Herbert, 52, of Shelburne Falls, Mass., was indicted on one count of theft of government money and one count of making false statements. Herbert was arrested this morning and was released on conditions following an initial appearance today in federal court in Springfield, Mass.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Herbert\u2019s alleged conduct is an affront to every veteran who has sacrificed to earn the honor of a Purple Heart and who is deserving of disability benefits. According to the indictment, he not only stole tens of thousands of dollars in disability benefits that are supposed to be used to help veterans in need, but he also falsely claimed to have suffered a traumatic brain injury during his deployment in an effort to receive a Purple Heart he didn\u2019t deserve,\u201d said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. \u201cEvery day, thousands of brave members of the military selflessly risk their lives to protect our country. Stealing from our country\u2019s veterans or claiming valor where there is none is an insult to the honorable service members who sacrifice for our safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe VA Office of Inspector General remains committed to ensuring that VA benefits are administered to deserving recipients based on legitimate accounts of their military service,\u201d said Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) Northeast Field Office. \u201cThe VA OIG thanks our partners at the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for their efforts in this joint investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIndividuals who steal veterans disability benefits and falsely represent themselves as decorated veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces degrade the service of the men and women who selflessly serve our country,\u201d said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Northeast Field Office, the law enforcement component of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. \u201cToday’s charges demonstrate our commitment to work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice to investigate allegations of stolen military benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the indictment, from Jan. 1, 2010 to March 11, 2023, Herbert stole more than $344,000 in veterans disability benefits. In addition, on Oct. 24, 2018, Herbert allegedly submitted an application for a Purple Heart award to the United States Marine Corps through his local Congressman, in which Herbert falsely stated that he had suffered injuries, including traumatic brain injury, from a roadside explosion while deployed to Northern Iraq.<\/p>\n

The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of making a false statement provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.<\/p>\n

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, VA-OIG SAC Algieri and DCIS SAC Hegarty made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.<\/p>\n

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Word spread quickly…
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