"Stolen Valor: Man accused of impersonating SEAL Team 6 member to solicit money outside Wawa"

2015-08-14T09:51:16-04:00

From: Tamba Bay Times

TAMPA — A man who belonged to SEAL Team 6 — the U.S military unit that took down Osama bin Laden in 2011 — has not been raising money for veterans outside a Wawa.

A fake SEAL was, though.

Freemane J. Brown, 54, was arrested Wednesday on a felony charge of unlawful use of uniforms, medals or insignia. He was taken into custody days after Hillsborough sheriff's deputies said he solicited money for veterans while impersonating a U.S. Navy commander who served with SEAL Team 6.

Instead, deputies said that Brown had assembled a rather elaborate U.S. Navy uniform using military clothing and insignia he purchased from a local Army/Navy surplus store.

The whole thing started on Aug. 7, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. About 9:30 a.m., a citizen notified deputies about an individual wearing a military uniform "aggressively soliciting" money for veterans at the Wawa store at 804 E Bearss Ave. near Lutz.

Deputies found Brown wearing tan Navy service khakis. They said he bore the rank of commander and had 21 ribbons pinned to his left breast, including the golden U.S. Navy SEAL Trident pin and Parachutist Badge, or "jump wings."

He also had two of the highest decorations for valor that a member of the armed forces can earn in combat: the third-highest-ranking medal, the Silver Star, and the second-highest, the Navy Cross.

While impressive, deputies said many of the insignia and ribbons on Brown's uniform were not in compliance with standard military regulations.

The Wawa manager told deputies she gave permission to Brown to stand outside the store because she believed he was a veteran. Deputies said that when they first questioned Brown, he told them that he was a former member of SEAL Team 6 — the moniker for the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, aka NSWDG or DEVGRU — and was "traveling all over the world." SEAL stands for U.S. Navy's Sea-Air-Land Teams.

After further questioning, deputies said, Brown admitted that he was neither a U.S. Navy officer nor a SEAL. Brown voluntarily surrendered all of the military insignias he was wearing, according to the Sheriff's Office, but was not arrested until Wednesday.

There are state and federal laws against "stolen valor" cases, where people misrepresent themselves as members of the U.S. military to obtain money or property, or to benefit themselves. Brown is accused of violating Florida law, but in 2013 President Obama signed into law the Stolen Valor Act making such acts a federal crime.

Stetson University College of Law professor Charles Rose said that the difference between the allegations against Brown and a panhandler bearing a sign claiming that they're a military veteran is that Brown was accused of using a military uniform and insignia to fraudulently obtain money.

"It's so ludicrous, it could only be designed to get money," Rose said. "If he had a more reasonable lie, he might have got away with it."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/man-accused-of-military-impersonation-while-soliciting-money-for-veterans/2241216

Stolen Valor: Man accused of impersonating SEAL Team 6 member to solicit money outside Wawa

TAMPA — A man who belonged to SEAL Team 6 — the U.S military unit that took down Osama bin Laden in 2011 — has not been raising money for veterans outside a Wawa.A fake SEAL was, though.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 14 at 2015 9:54 AM

2015-08-14T09:54:12-04:00

I almost feel sorry for this guy but that will pass.....there it went!

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Aug 14 at 2015 9:56 AM

2015-08-14T09:56:20-04:00

Dude has SEAL written all over him!
Looks totally legit .. especially around the waist...

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 10:00 AM

2015-08-14T10:00:06-04:00

And another one bites the dust!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 14 at 2015 10:01 AM

2015-08-14T10:01:37-04:00

Doesn't look like a SEAL to me.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 14 at 2015 10:02 AM

2015-08-14T10:02:33-04:00

Response by SPC Robert Patrick made Aug 14 at 2015 10:14 AM

2015-08-14T10:14:02-04:00

The closest I think anyone has gotten to having a uniform correct I think. Not quiet as obvious. But there are tell tale signs

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 10:37 AM

2015-08-14T10:37:03-04:00

This is a special type of douche canoe!

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Aug 14 at 2015 10:41 AM

2015-08-14T10:41:56-04:00

I am gut sick of stolen valor.

Response by PO1 Sojourner "Chancy" Phillips made Aug 14 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-08-14T10:53:04-04:00

Ok. Here it is. There are only a handful of Black Seals. And trust me, those in the community know who they are. Because of that he should have known he was going to be called out on his BS.

He should be flogged and forced to walk the plank and left in the desert with only a quart of motor oil!!!! Douchebag!!!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 14 at 2015 11:03 AM

2015-08-14T11:03:56-04:00

Pretty simple, place him in with Seal Team 6 for a week or so and let them discuss missions. The world will right itself.

Response by SPC David S. made Aug 14 at 2015 11:05 AM

2015-08-14T11:05:40-04:00

At least this gut - I mean guy - isn't prior service.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Aug 14 at 2015 11:20 AM

2015-08-14T11:20:20-04:00

I don't understand why these people choose SEAL Team 6 members to impersonate, or Army SF folks, etc. It brings such a higher level of scrutiny.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 14 at 2015 11:30 AM

2015-08-14T11:30:22-04:00

Just like everything else the more you try to catch the criminals, the more tactics they try to use to get away with it. These people are shameful.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 14 at 2015 11:33 AM

2015-08-14T11:33:43-04:00

I think we should create an RP "pathetic" category and make sure all stolen valor posts get categorized under it and "humor"

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 12:37 PM

2015-08-14T12:37:40-04:00

SEAL Team 6? Navy Cross? Silver Star?

Not too many people are rocking that combo so the scrutiny factor is going to be really high to begin with. Then add to the fact that this guy has a beach ball for a stomach and a goat tee. Just stop.

Response by TSgt Ryan Lee made Aug 14 at 2015 3:22 PM

2015-08-14T15:22:54-04:00

First a SEAL member is never that fat!

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 3:43 PM

2015-08-14T15:43:25-04:00

As a local to this story...

((clearing throat)) THIS F*CKING GUY. What is wrong with you?? You are literal miles away from one of the largest Joint bases that, oh, I don't know, houses SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (WOOT!)!! :)

How the...?? Why the...?? What the deuce, man??

That is all.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Aug 14 at 2015 3:54 PM

2015-08-14T15:54:55-04:00

Throw him in a pool and see if he can swim...

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2015 4:10 PM

2015-08-14T16:10:22-04:00

Response by PO3 Chris Wright, MBA made Aug 14 at 2015 10:19 PM

2015-08-14T22:19:29-04:00

These military surplus stores need to quit selling to anyone that walks through the door. You should be required to show a military id, veteran id, retired service member id, or your DD-214 before they sell you anything.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Aug 14 at 2015 11:43 PM

2015-08-14T23:43:42-04:00

I prefer to impersonate an oversized mechanic with messed up feet.

Response by CPO Tim Broderick made Aug 15 at 2015 6:49 AM

2015-08-15T06:49:07-04:00

Oh look it LCDR Doughnuts, from Seal Team Fatboy....

Response by PO1 John Bluck made Aug 15 at 2015 6:35 PM

2015-08-15T18:35:23-04:00

Why not pack him and all the other stolen valor people up and send them to Syria to take out ISIS for us lol

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Aug 17 at 2015 4:55 AM

2015-08-17T04:55:43-04:00

If it can be proven that he "gained financially" from his deception then, yes, he should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Response by MSgt Brian Welch made Aug 17 at 2015 5:33 AM

2015-08-17T05:33:57-04:00

Send him to Leavenworth and have him do real time without the comforts of the civilian prison system.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Nov 3 at 2015 4:58 PM

2015-11-03T16:58:27-05:00

Where are the memes?

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 9:49 AM

2015-11-17T09:49:43-05:00

meal team 6

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2015 7:21 PM

2015-11-25T19:21:23-05:00

That huge gut wasn't fooling anybody, but that uniform was pretty spot on... maybe he was just some dope who got out as an E-2 and fancied himself something higher?

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Nov 25 at 2015 7:35 PM

2015-11-25T19:35:15-05:00

I have to say this---NO ONE WAS LIKELY TO BE ACCUSED OF "STOLEN VALOR" DURING THE VIETNAM ERA.The reason was it wasn't a PC thing at the time and Veterans were ignored at the best.

Response by CPL Richard Rios made Nov 25 at 2015 9:06 PM

2015-11-25T21:06:43-05:00

SEAL fraudsters are very popular today. One of the military poser watchdog websites states that for every one legitimate active or veteran SEAL there are one thousand wannabes.

Response by SCPO Bruce Davis made Sep 22 at 2017 4:18 PM

2017-09-22T16:18:15-04:00

Actually, he would do better impersonating a Chief Petty Officer with that gut....he could be accepted as a fellow Seabee easier than a Seal..