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Walts, posers & wannabes (merged)

Somebody with issues wandering around pretending to be a vet and maybe getting a free beer out of it is one thing, scamming $200,000 is worthy of hearty disdain. Plus this is the character he developed for his channel. Boring just does not sell in this day and age.
 
His This Old Crackhouse videos, in which he pours good money after bad to repair a crackhouse bought at an auction, are of him not in character.
 
Not just stolen valor . . .

 
Not just stolen valor . . .


As I was interested to see if there were similar cases that came to the attention of a US Attorney, I did a search "Stolen valor" - Department of Justice Search Results

There's quite a few, but this one, from earlier this year, caught my attention.

Canadian Man Charged with Stolen Valor and Forging Military Discharge Paperwork​

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Randall J. Montour, age 44, a resident of Cornwall, Ontario, was arrested and charged today for violating the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 and for falsifying his military discharge certificate. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and United States Marshal David L. McNulty made the announcement.

Montour was charged by complaint and made his initial appearance in Plattsburgh, before United States Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro. Montour was released pending a further court appearance.

The complaint alleges that Montour falsely altered his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Form DD-214, to reflect he received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force and that he earned numerous decorations, medals, badges, citations or campaign ribbons, including the Purple Heart. The complaint further alleges that on three occasions, Montour used his altered Form DD-214 to purchase Purple Heart recipient license plates from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, which he then affixed to his vehicle.

Military records show, however, that Montour served in the United States Air Force from 1999 until he was court-martialed in 2000 for impersonating an officer and making threats. Montour received a bad-conduct discharge and was separated from the Air Force on June 18, 2001. He is not a Purple Heart recipient.

The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charges filed against Montour carry up to 1 year in jail, a fine of up to $100,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 1 year. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

The United States Marshals Service is investigating the case with assistance from the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas G. Collyer is prosecuting the case.

Updated April 25, 2023
 
Montour served in the United States Air Force from 1999 until he was court-martialed in 2000 for impersonating an officer
Seems to be recurring behavior.
 
As I was interested to see if there were similar cases that came to the attention of a US Attorney, I did a search "Stolen valor" - Department of Justice Search Results

There's quite a few, but this one, from earlier this year, caught my attention.


He doesn't turn up on this site, but I assume it must be impossible to build a complete list!

 
I am always surprised (although I shouldn't be) at the number of poseurs that show up in legion regalia - the tie, the pins, etc.

I think the legion needs to tighten up its screening. (Yes, I know there is a whole other thread about the legion).
 
The thing is, the show up in Legion regalia, and it's likely stuff that they've earned through roles that they've legitimately filled with the legion.

The general public doesn't have a clue that medals worn on the right by Legion members do not actually equate to military service. They just see a rack of stuff, and assume "OMG - A HERO"....
 
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