Posted on Aug 25, 2016
DOJ: Vet's Purple Heart Lies Cost Government $752,000
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TACOMA, Wash. — Federal prosecutors now say a former soldier who lied his way to a Purple Heart cheated Washington state and the federal government out of more than $750,000.
The total is about three times what investigators cited when they charged Darryl Wright with fraud in 2014.
Wright, a former National Guardsman, is due to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Thursday. Prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison term, arguing that Wright lied about having been injured in Iraq in a successful effort to be awarded a Purple Heart and disability and other benefits.
They also argue that he obstructed justice when he accused a co-worker in the U.S. Commerce Department of violating his privacy after she discovered some of his wrongdoing.
Wright is seeking a one-year sentence. His attorney says he was entitled to most of the benefits he received because of PTSD he suffered from his deployment.
@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see) , Capt Seid Waddell , SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell , SSG Leo Bell , SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth, TSgt Melissa Post
The total is about three times what investigators cited when they charged Darryl Wright with fraud in 2014.
Wright, a former National Guardsman, is due to be sentenced in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Thursday. Prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison term, arguing that Wright lied about having been injured in Iraq in a successful effort to be awarded a Purple Heart and disability and other benefits.
They also argue that he obstructed justice when he accused a co-worker in the U.S. Commerce Department of violating his privacy after she discovered some of his wrongdoing.
Wright is seeking a one-year sentence. His attorney says he was entitled to most of the benefits he received because of PTSD he suffered from his deployment.
@SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas , Capt Christopher Mueller , CPT (Join to see) , COL Mikel J. Burroughs , Sgt Joe LaBranche , SSgt (Join to see) , Capt Seid Waddell , SrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F. PO2 Ed C. PO2 Mark Saffell MSG Tom Earley PVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel @SGT John McConnell SGT John " Mac " McConnell , SSG Leo Bell , SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth, TSgt Melissa Post
DOJ: Vet's Purple Heart Lies Cost Government $752,000
Posted from military.com
Purple Heart
Law
Fraud
Posted >1 y ago
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I fail to see the point as to why people have to lie about their awards, decorations, deployments, etc. It blows my mind every time I read these stories! I appreciate the read SP5 Mark Kuzinski
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