Weilbacher, Michael G
ST. LOUIS (AP) - A St. Louis man who posed as a Marine and wore military medals not awarded to him was sentenced to two years of probation yesterday on a federal charge.
Michael Gerald Weilbacher, 48, also will serve 120 hours of community service at a military organization and pay a $3,000 fine. He pleaded guilty Feb. 1.
Weilbacher joined the South St. Louis Detachment of the Marine Corps League by representing that he had been honorably discharged from the Marines, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said. He appeared at the U.S. Marine Corps Ball on Nov. 11 wearing several medals and decorations, including the Navy Cross, the Marine Corps’ second-highest medal.
Several people who were there contacted the FBI, suspecting Weilbacher was not authorized to wear the medals. In his plea, he admitted he had never been a Marine and had not been awarded the Navy Cross.
The original charge against Weilbacher was a misdemeanor. After he was charged, Congress passed the Stolen Valor Act, making the crime a felony.
Man to be sentenced for posing as Marine
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man faces sentencing Tuesday on a federal charge for posing as a Marine and wearing military medals that were not awarded to him.
Gerald Weilbacher, 48, could face up to six months in prison. He pleaded guilty Feb. 1.
Weilbacher joined the South St. Louis Detachment of the Marine Corps League by representing that he had been honorably discharged from the Marines, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said. He appeared at the U.S. Marine Corps Ball on Nov. 11 wearing several medals and decorations, including the Navy Cross, the Marine Corps' second-highest medal.
Several people who were there contacted the FBI, suspecting Weilbacher was not authorized to wear the medals. In his plea, he admitted he had never been a Marine and had not been awarded the Navy Cross.
The charge against Weilbacher was a misdemeanor. After he was charged, Congress passed the Stolen Valor Act, making the crime a felony.
Man pleads guilty to fraudulent Navy Cross
Posted : Thursday Feb 1, 2007 18:41:58 EST
A St. Louis man pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraudulently wearing the nation’s second-highest award for combat valor to a local Marine Corps birthday ball last November, according to the St. Louis U.S. Attorney’s office.
When he entered his plea, Michael Weilbacher, 48, admitted he had never served in the Marine Corps and had not earned the Navy Cross he wore to the ball, according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway, who prosecuted the case.
Weilbacher’s case was referred to the FBI by Marines at the ball who suspected he was an impostor, according to the release.
Weilbacher is scheduled to be sentenced April 13 and faces a maximum punishment of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine under the law in effect at the time of his arrest.
The Stolen Valor Act, signed into law the month following Weilbacher’s arrest, doubled the maximum fine and prison sentence for anyone who fraudulently claims “verbally or in writing” to rate a decoration authorized by Congress for the armed forces.
Weilbacher’s case, along with that of Jim Fields, another Missouri man who delivered a Veterans Day speech to the American Legion in Chillicothe wearing what he later admitted to Marine Corps Times was an unearned Navy Cross, was credited by lawmakers with creating the last-minute momentum that got the Stolen Valor Act out of the House Judiciary Committee and onto the floor before the 109th Congress adjourned at the end of last year.
Michael G. Weilbacher, 48, of Kirkwood, pled guilty in federal court in St. Louis today of wearing military medals that were not earned or awarded to him.
Weilbacher admitted in court that he had never been in the Marine Corps and had never been awarded the Navy Cross, which he wore to the Marine Corps Ball on Veterans Day last year.
“By posing as military serviceman, Mr. Weilbacher has dishonored those who have made real sacrifices serving our country,” said U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway. “In the time since Mr. Weilbacher was originally charged, Congress passed the Stolen Valor Act, making this crime a felony, instead of a misdemeanor.”
Weilbacher joined the South St. Louis Detachment of the Marine Corps League several years ago, claiming he had served as a major in the Marine Corps. On Nov. 11, 2006, he attended the ball wearing numerous military medals including the Navy Cross, the Marine Corps’ second highest medal. League members became suspicious and called the FBI.
Weilbacher, of the 200 block of Horsehoe Drive, plead guilty to wearing medals authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces of the United States without being authorized. He now faces a penalty of six months in prison and/or a fine of $5,000, when he is sentenced April 13.
Highly decorated Marine Major wearing civilian dress seen at USMC Birthday Ball who was wearing a Navy Cross and about 4 Bronze Stars amidst a slew of other awards on his dress jacket. His name is not listed in any Navy Cross records. It is possible his award is anonymous due to the secrecy of the mission he was on. Talking to him, he received the Navy Cross for a mission that went bad in Bogota, Colombia dealing with the drug cartels. He is a recon Marine with 16 1/2 years of service, but presently out due to medical issues. ... stated he was in Operation Just Cause in Granada in 1983 as part of the Marine Recon force that was disastrous at that time as well. ....
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Name
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Mike |
| Location | Grew up in Kansas, Now live in Downtown St. Louis |
| Gender | Male |
| Marital Status | Gone with the wind |
| Hobbies & Interests | Military
History, International issues, outdoors,sports,books (Clancy, Marcinko, and the like), GOLF, cooking, movies, |
| Favorite Gadgets | Pampered Chef devices and a good set of blades |
| Occupation | Business Consultant and Civilian Intel Consultant to the Pentagon(Marines) |
| Personal Quote | Arrogance can often times be confused with Confidence |
| Link |
Member
Since: 1/24/98
Updated: 11/28/05
Visitors: 345
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St. Louis, MO -- A local man is accused of living a lie, posing as a highly decorated Marine. He fooled his friends but not the feds. The so-called phony Marine, 48-year-old Michael Weilbacher, was just arrested at Tuesday night's Marine League meeting. .....
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Phony Marine Busted -- Too Fat to Be Real
November 29, 2006 4:25 PM
Brian Ross and Vic Walter Report:
FBI agents have arrested a St. Louis businessman who
they say posed as a highly decorated Marine Major even though he never
served in the Corps.
Forty-eight-year-old Michael Weilbacher was arrested
while attending a local Marine Corps League meeting.
Federal authorities say he was spotted earlier this month
at another event, the Marine Corps Annual Birthday Ball, wearing
several distinguished medals.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
"He was wearing the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars and just about every medal in the book," said Major William G. Dragan, who attended the event and told ABC News that he immediately became suspicious of Weilbacher. ........
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STLtoday - News - St. Louis City / County
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