Fake
War Hero Moves out of Town
Jeffrey Morgan MULLER
aka
Jeffrey
Carhoota-Cornplanter
aka mullen
AKA MORGAN
Jeff Muller seems to move from state to state. CURRENTLY IN PA
ACTUAL RECORDS
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Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009 @01:38pm EST
BLAKESLEE, MONROE COUNTY- A fake war hero who many say
earned a community's trust and used its generosity is
skipping town. Just ten days after Eyewitness News exposed
the man, he moved out.
Less than two weeks after Eyewitness News uncovered proof that Jeffrey Muller was not a Vietnam war hero, he moved out of his Blakeslee home. "Because he apparently doesn't have the guts to stay around or to fess up to what he's done," said Ralph Keiper. He's a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Pocono Chapter. He said the chapter helped Jeff pay bills. He explained, "We've tried to make good for other veterans." Members believed Jeff served in Vietnam and earned piles of honorable medals including multiple purple hearts. "He can make you believe that it's snowing outside in the summer," said Keiper. But Eyewitness News obtained documents that prove Jeff never served in Vietnam. He never earned a prestigious medal and he only spent a few months in the Army before a short stint in the National Guard. "He hasn't apologized to anyone," noted Keiper. Eyewitness News tried to get in touch with Jeff. His wife hung up on the crew twice. The news later found his car parked at a friend's house in Blakeslee. That friend denied Jeff was there and said he didn't know where he was or where he planned to move. While that person believes Jeff, others are sure he'll strike again in another community. "If they're not caught - they'll do it again to someone else," said Keiper. The Pocono Veterans weren't the first ones to fall for the scam. Eyewitness News obtained a letter from a New Jersey VFW Chapter that shows Jeff was kicked out because he couldn't prove his claims. The FBI is investigating the case but the work could take months. In the meantime local veterans say they want an apology. They also want to warn the public that Jeff Muller uses several other last names. They include Carhoota, Cornplanter and Mullen. |
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Did a Blakeslee man falsify U.S. Military Service records ???
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now trying to determine if a Blakeslee man is really a decorated war veteran, or an imposter. The "Pocono Record" and WBRE-TV's, Laurie Monteforte report that members of Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 678 say the man, Jeffrey Muller, a.k.a Jeffrey Caringheart, Jeffrey Cornplanter, Jeffrey Carhoota, or Jeffrey Carhoota Cornplanter, has been passing himself off as a Special Forces warrant officer who flew helicopters in Vietnam. He also claims to have earned many distinguished service honors and awards. The reports say Muller showed up at a local chapter meeting and the group accepted him as one of their own. They even gave him money to pay bills and did work on his house. However, when they received his military service record, VVA Chapter President, Glenn Lippincott said it was altered, falsified and photocopied...and his real service record shows Muller served in the National Guard for six months in the early 1970's. The document doesn't show evidence that he served in southeast Asia. If the FBI determines Muller lied and falsified documents, he could face big fines and jail time for violating the Stolen Valor Act. |
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huge article....
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090620/NEWS/906200347
Vets accuse Blakeslee man of playing war hero
http://pahomepage.com/content/video/?watch=1&cid=89172NEWS VIDEO
http://pahomepage.com/content/video/?watch=1&cid=89171 AND http://pahomepage.com/content/video/?watch=1&cid=89172
Friday, Jun 19, 2009 @06:05pm ESTBLAKESLEE, MONROE COUNTY - Members of the Pocono Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) were crushed when they learned a local hero is not who he claimed to be.
"Totally devastated. Devastated. Hurt. Felt deceived," said Debra Russo. Howard Polbos added, "When you have to brag about what you did. There's always something funny."
Eyewitness News has video of Jeffrey Muller visiting Washington DC in 1990. During that visit he wore a pile of distinguished medals and bragged about combat in Vietnam.
Jeff moved to Blakeslee last year and befriended VVA members. They believed his stories and even helped him pay bills until he tried to officially join the group and his paperwork looked forged. "I am just so mad," said Ray Russo.
Eyewitness News obtained documents that prove Jeffrey Miller never served in Vietnam and never earned a prestigious medal. Ralph Keiper said, "I cared about him and then when you have this happen, it creates a deep hurt."
Jeff refused to talk to Eyewitness News. He sent his friend Calvin Williams to speak on his behalf. Calvin said, "You're not going to get a comment out of them."
He believes Jeff is a decorated veteran. Eyewitness News offered to show him paperwork that proved otherwise but he refused to look at it. He said he will continue to support Miller because no one has filed charges against him.
Officials say the FBI is investigating and charges could eventually be filed. Howard Polbos said, "If it comes to being fined and prison time - I think he deserves it."
It is illegal to claim you are a military hero unless you actually earned the honors. Polbos remarked, "It's both insulting and hurting."
An organization called the P.O.W. Network tracks phonies. It investigates at least twenty complaints a week. Eyewitness News spoke with P.O.W. researcher Mary Schantag. She said there's an epidemic of hoax heroes. She explained, "They want to lead the parades, they want to get ladies, they want to have an easy life."
Schantag said people falsify documents with computer programs and buy medals online. The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 makes it illegal to claim you are a military hero. Violators could face fines and up to a year in prison.
Schantag explained federal investigators are often too overwhelmed with other crimes to focus on impersonators. She said, "If we had state laws that paralleled the federal violations we could get this through the court system much faster than we are able to do now."
Pocono VVA members say they encourage state lawmakers to write similar laws so no one can steal valor or dishonor real heroes. "You can't hide. The days of hiding are over," said Glen Lippincott.
Many veterans said they get especially upset about frauds because they take up space in VA Hospitals. Eyewitness News does not yet know if Jeff is receiving undeserved hospital care but will continue to investigate.
Stolen Valor
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Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, Jun 19, 2009 @12:44pm EST
BLAKESLEE, MONROE COUNTY - Vietnam Veterans in the
Poconos are devastated. Eyewitness News learned a man
who claimed to be one of their own is a fraud.
Eyewitness News obtained video of Jeffrey Muller strutting through Washington D.C. the picture of valor. He was confident and weighed down with prestigious medals. But was it real? Or was it all stolen valor? For decades, Jeffrey impressed people with his Vietnam battlefield stories. He commanded the respect of a Chief Warrant Officer. Last year he moved to the Poconos and met members of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). They welcomed him as a brother. Ralph Keiper said, "I thought that he was a very nice person." Eyewitness News met with Ralph and several other VVA members who heard Jeff's heroic stories. "That he was in Special Forces that he was in Vietnam for a few years," said Debra Russo. Howard Polbos added, "He told me he was a helicopter pilot, a Warrant Officer." Marty Barret said, "He says he has purple hearts and says he has distinguished service cross - flying cross." Jeff quickly bonded with Debra and her husband Ray Russo. "We were together almost every day," said Ray. The couple said they bought Jeff groceries. And when he struggled to pay bills the entire chapter pitched in and paid his utilities. But many vets said something felt off. "We always tell each other welcome home shake hands and hug each other. He didn't do that," explained Barrett. Polbos also felt strange. He asked Jeff where and when he fought but never got a specific answer. Then Jeff tried to officially join the VVA. He submitted his paperwork to Chapter President Glen Lippincott. He was shocked. He explained, "'Oh man' I said. This has blatantly been altered." The military release paperwork Jeff submitted to the VVA claims he was an Army Special Forces Officer in Vietnam. It shows he earned the military's second highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross. It claimed he earned Aviator Wings, a Purple Heart and other honors. It also shows he completed pilot training and two years of active service. Eyewitness News learned he was not a Chief Warrant Officer. He was a Private First Class. Lippincott said, "He never served any real active duty." Eyewitness News obtained Jeff's actual paperwork. The only decoration he earned was a Sharpshooter Badge. He never went to Vietnam. He never even left the United States. He was released from duty to join the National Guard after about six months. "It was one lie after the other," said Barrett. Eyewitness News found other apparent lies. Online Jeff claims he started service in 1968. His former wife shared a video of a family visit to Washington D.C. In it you hear Jeff say he was in Vietnam in 1969. But Jeff's true paperwork shows he didn't enter the service until 1970. VVA members call the deception a slap in the face. They said Jeff stole honor and valor from the real heroes. Barrett cried as he said, "It dishonors them." Eyewitness News tried to get Jeff's side of the story. The man who claimed to be a brave soldier didn't answer his door or repeated phone calls. He'll soon have to talk to authorities. The FBI is investigating him. Ray Russo said, "I'm just so mad. I just want to see him go to jail." Other vets hope that could help them recover some stolen valor. Jeff apparently got away with his deception for so long because he used several different last names including Carhoota and Cornplanter. |
Vietnam Vet Imposter Could Face
Charges
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Friday, Jun 19, 2009 @01:01pm EST
BLAKESLEE, MONROE COUNTY - Members of the Pocono Vietnam
Veterans of America (VVA) were crushed when they
learned a local hero is not who he claimed to be.
"Totally devastated. Devastated. Hurt. Felt deceived," said Debra Russo. Howard Polbos added, "When you have to brag about what you did. There's always something funny." Eyewitness News has video of Jeffrey Muller visiting Washington DC in 1990. During that visit he wore a pile of distinguished medals and bragged about combat in Vietnam. Jeff moved to Blakeslee last year and befriended VVA members. They believed his stories and even helped him pay bills until he tried to officially join the group and his paperwork looked forged. "I am just so mad," said Ray Russo. Eyewitness News obtained documents that prove Jeffrey Miller never served in Vietnam and never earned a prestigious medal. Ralph Keiper said, "I cared about him and then when you have this happen, it creates a deep hurt." Jeff refused to talk to Eyewitness News. He sent his friend Calvin Williams to speak on his behalf. Calvin said, "You're not going to get a comment out of them." He believes Jeff is a decorated veteran. Eyewitness News offered to show him paperwork that proved otherwise but he refused to look at it. He said he will continue to support Miller because no one has filed charges against him. Officials say the FBI is investigating and charges could eventually be filed. Howard Polbos said, "If it comes to being fined and prison time - I think he deserves it." It is illegal to claim you are a military hero unless you actually earned the honors. Polbos remarked, "It's both insulting and hurting." An organization called the P.O.W. Network tracks phonies. It investigates at least twenty complaints a week. Eyewitness News spoke with P.O.W. researcher Mary Schantag. She said there's an epidemic of hoax heroes. She explained, "They want to lead the parades, they want to get ladies, they want to have an easy life." Schantag said people falsify documents with computer programs and buy medals online. The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 makes it illegal to claim you are a military hero. Violators could face fines and up to a year in prison. Schantag explained federal investigators are often too overwhelmed with other crimes to focus on impersonators. She said, "If we had state laws that paralleled the federal violations we could get this through the court system much faster than we are able to do now." Pocono VVA members say they encourage state lawmakers to write similar laws so no one can steal valor or dishonor real heroes. "You can't hide. The days of hiding are over," said Glen Lippincott. Many veterans said they get especially upset about frauds because they take up space in VA Hospitals. Eyewitness News does not yet know if Jeff is receiving undeserved hospital care but will continue to investigate. |
Blakeslee man accused of masquerading as a decorated Vietnam vet
A Blakeslee man has been masquerading as a decorated Vietnam vet for money and attention, according to The POW Network and several veterans groups. And the man's allegedly fraudulent service records have been turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“It’s in their hands,” said POW Network’s Mary Schantag, one of the founders of the organization.
Members of a local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 678 said that the man, Jeffrey Muller, aka Jeffrey Cornplanter, Jeffrey Carhoota, Jeffrey Caringheart or Jeffrey Carhoota Cornplanter, has been falsely passing himself off as a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, a Special Forces warrant officer who flew helicopters in Vietnam, and a Seneca Indian chief.
“We learned about him last fall. He came to a meeting. He was introduced as a warrant officer, a helicopter pilot, all kinds of commendations,” Howard “Doc” Polbos said. Doc himself was an HMC 57 – a chief hospital corpsman who trained medical personal and treated wounded soldiers in Vietnam. He also went into villages and hamlets to treat Vietnamese civilians.
The local group gave Muller the benefit of the doubt. They gave him money to pay bills. One member even installed an alarm system in his home.
When they asked Muller if he wanted to join the local group, he gave them his military service record – called a DD214.
“When I got his DD214, it was obviously altered. It was the old school of cut and paste, trimmed and photocopied. I called up the membership chairman and I said we can’t pass this," Glen Lippincott, president of the local VVA chapter, said.
Muller’s real DD214 shows he served in the National Guard for six months between 1970 and 1971. It also shows he never went overseas.
Muller’s altered military records indicates he received the Distinguished Service Cross, the country’s second highest award, along with several others. His actual service record indicates he received training in maintenance and had a sharpshooters badge.
If the evidence holds up, Muller won’t be the first person to impersonate a combat veteran or falsely claim decorations and medals they didn’t achieve. But since 2005, the Stolen Valor Act made false claims about military decorations a federal crime, punishable with jail time and steep fines.
The Pocono Record will have an in-depth account of the circumstances surrounding this story in Sunday’s edition.
NDSM: National Defense Service MedalDSC: Army Distinguished Service CrossDFC: Distinguished Flying CrossPHM: Purple Heart MedalBSM: Bronze Star medalAir medalSSM: Silver Star medalAviator Wings: Army AviatorARCOM: Army Commendation medal with "V" device for valorVCM: Vietnam Campaign medal3 O/S BARS: Overseas barsEXPM-16: Expert with M-16 rifle.
- 3 bronze stars, chief warrant officer, 5th Special Forces
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Claims Vietnam Veteran and was in the Special Forces, earned a Purple Heart.
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Claims he was a chief of the Seneca Indian tribe in Canada.
- Shows a Special Forces ID card from his wallet
- Has shown off the THREE Bronze Star certificates, amongst many other medals while he was in Vietnam. He wears a Special Forces jacket and has a Special Forces Tattoo.
- Has been seen in a Video marching in a parade wearing a few purple hearts, Vietnam medal amongst others. This video also has audio where you can hear Jeff state he was in Vietnam 1969-71.
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Believed to have a VA medical card using the name Jeff Cornplanter. Allegedly has a Purple Heart on his card. (Which means he used the falsified DD214)
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Believed to have filed for VA medical benefits in Wilkes Barre, PA
Asked to complete a SF180 to obtain a true copy from St Louis when an OBVIOUSLY falsified DD214 was presented as proof of eligibility. SF180 has not yet been returned.
Jeff has a Special Forces tattoo on his arm. A web site from the high school he graduated from states he graduated June 1970 from Union High School, Union NJ. He states on tape that he was in Vietnam 1969-1971
He has been married 3 times - false documents have been used in court.
January 2009 he received approx $400 from the local VVA to pay for his electric bill. They paid his electric bill assuming he was a Vietnam Veteran and that he was joining the VVA chapter. He did attempt to join and the President has in his possession the copy of the altered DD214 he submitted. They approached him and asked him to complete a SF180 - he refused.Jeff has introduced himself as Special Forces, Warrant Officer and a recipient of a number of Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts etc. He has shown others the Bronze Star certificates, amongst many other medals while he was in Vietnam. Jeff wears a Special Forces jacket and has a Special Forces Tattoo.
Jeff walks with a cane, when he goes to court uses a wheel chair - yet there are pictures of him dancing up a storm Dec 2008 at a VVA Christmas Party.
MORE CLAIMS
For approximately twenty years, Jeffrey Morgan Muller has been utilizing the altered military (DD-214) discharge papers, and other accreditations, belonging to another