NEWS - January 2010

CALIF ALVAREZ CASE AND 
STOLEN VALOR ACT CONSTITUTIONALITY

NOTICE OF MOTION; MOTION TO DISMISS INDICTMENT

(IN CHAMBERS) ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS


Watchdogs say More Needed to Fight Fakes | *THE OFFICIAL MFCUSA ...

By Joshua Clair Hoard
Phonies now risk stiffer jail sentences and fines for military misrepresentations under the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, which was drafted by Sterner and his wife, Pam. But those cases are not a priority for the Department of Justice, ...
*THE OFFICIAL MFCUSA* - http://mfcusa.blogspot.com/

guest commentary Military lies are harmful to actual veterans

Denver Post
By David Steiner The Post criticizes the Stolen Valor Act, saying free speech is more important than punishing someone for lying about their military record ...

Mudville Gazette

By Greyhawk
... a friend-of-the-court brief in Strandlof's case that said, in effect, that calling yourself a veteran and claiming certain awards and accolades as your own, is protected speech and that the Stolen Valor Act is unconstitutional. ...
Mudville Gazette - http://www.mudvillegazette.com/

Stolen Valor
Alert - General David Petraeus, Politics

Richard Glen Strandlof, 32, was wanted on a federal warrant after being charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it illegal to . ...
Very Special item - CoinTalk
By Lather
Eric Gene Piotrowski, who is charged under the so-called Stolen Valor Act, made an initial appearance Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd, who ordered him released on a $10000 unsecured bond. ...
CoinTalk - http://www.cointalk.com/

Fighting the fakes: Bogus military heroes spur outcry for action

El Paso Times
Schantag obtained the service records of both and found all the claims to be false. When confronted, one said he had changed his name and Social Security ...

False claims of military valor are hardly criminal

Denver Post
... measure because "These imposters degrade the meaning of medals earned in service ... There is a better way to protect the integrity of military awards. ...

The Military Post: Honored Texan's Medal Claims Fraudulent?

By Chase Morgan
The legion collects information on people who have received the nation's highest medals, including the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross and the Air Force Cross. Donald Mason, the legion's national ...
The Military Post - http://themilitarypost.blogspot.com/
Man Busted for Posing as State Trooper, Navy SEAL
US Navy SEALs Blog & Information (blog)
When he initially moved into town, he reportedly introduced himself as someone named Gary who was a former Navy SEAL and had several career medals to his ...

Channel 5 Boston “Team 5 Investigates”

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/investigative/22304874/detail.html


Phony War Heroes Break Law, Go Unpunished

Boston Channel.com
"The government is definitely not doing enough to prosecute these guys," said Mary Schantag of the POW Network, a nonprofit group that investigates claims ...
Fake Cop Suspect Had Other Identities
WKRC TV Cincinnati
When he moved in a year ago, he told people his name was Gary, that he was a former Navy Seal and had medals of honor. He told neighbors his son was an ...
See all stories on this topic

[Video] UPDATE: Tampa man arraigned on 'Stolen Valor' charges ...

By admin
http://www.abcactionnews.com –. Angel Ocasio appeared in U.S. Federal Court in Tampa Wednesday to answer charges that he violated the Stolen Valor Act, a law making it illegal to fraudulently claim to have won medals of valor. ...
Bradenton Sarasota Drigg - Published... - http://bradentonsarasota.com/

Denver Poser POS- Rick Strandlof (from the Denver Compost)

By NinjaKiwi
They are of the further opinion that this is protected First Amendment speech, which, in their minds, makes the Stolen Valor Act unconstitutional. Would that they were so concerned with the Constitutionality of the current ...
ArmyParatrooper.org - Home of... - http://www.armyparatrooper.org/dropzone/

Stolen Valor Act unconstitutional, fake vet's attorney claims ...
Top Stories: Stolen Valor Act unconstitutional, fake vet's attorney claims | strandlof, act, attorney, stolen, liberties, war, district, claims, redesign, ...

Tampa man arraigned on 'Stolen Valor' charges | abcactionnews.com

Angel Ocasio appeared in US Federal Court in Tampa Wednesday to answer charges that he violated the Stolen Valor Act, a law making it illegal to ...

Stolen Valor
report | Court-Martial Trial Practice

Strandlof still at the trial level involving a prosecution under the Stolen Valor Act. Here's a link to a DenverPost.com article about the person involved. ...

Lies from "war vet" are protected speech, civil liberties group ...

"As such, the Stolen Valor Act is an unconstitutional restraint on the freedom of ... "Even if this court finds that the Stolen Valor Act affects protected ...

Man accused under Stolen Valor Act on trial

Man accused under Stolen Valor Act on trialTampabay.comPrevious law punished only people falsely wearing the Medal of Honor. This is the fourth time in 12 ...
This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here » Blog Archive ...
By TSO
Please realize the FBI only investigates and many have no idea what the ins and outs of the Stolen Valor Act are. It is the U.S. Attorney's that fail to approve the investigation and prosecute. SOOO many cases ares stopped by USA's. ...
This ain't Hell, but you can... - http://p12.hostingprod.com/@thisainthell.us/blog/

Lawyers: Man's fake vet claims protected

UPI.com

Federal prosecutors in Denver say Rick Strandlof, 32, violated the Stolen Valor Act by making false claims about receiving military decorations while posing ...
See all stories on this topic

Rick Strandlof Stolen Valor Case Seeks To More Precisely Define ...

Huffington Post
Strandlof, 32, is charged in US District Court in Denver with five misdemeanors related to violating the Stolen Valor Act -- specifically, making false ...

Lies from "war vet" are protected speech, civil liberties group says

Denver Post
"As such, the Stolen Valor Act is an unconstitutional restraint on the ... The Stolen Valor Act prohibits people from falsely claiming they have been ...

Man accused under Stolen Valor Act on trial

Tampabay.com
In December, authorities charged Angel Manuel Ocasio-Reyes, 48, under the Stolen Valor Act. He faces three counts: falsely wearing medals authorized by ...

WANTED! For stolen valor - FreedomSledder.com

This is illegal as per The Stolen Valor act and this guy needs to go to jail. This has been a cancer for a long time, but with the internet we can do what ...

Fake
26/11 hero takes British royalty for a ride

Ahmedabad Mirror
A few days later, Kuntawala received an award from the hands of Maharashtra Governor as a 'surviving hero'. He returned triumphant to London where he ...
See all stories on this topic

Honored Texan's claims of earning medals of valor may be fraudulent

El Paso Times
Sterner and his wife, Pam, were the force behind the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, a law sponsored by US Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo. That law makes it easier to ...

Questions about Stolen Valor - SOCNET: The Special Operations ...

I guess my question is does this sound like it would fall under the Stolen Valor act and who do we contact to get the ball rolling. ...

Another Man Pleads Guilty to Wearing Phony Military Medals ...

By Mary Queen
David Vincent Weber was charged under the federal Stolen Valor Act, which criminalizes those who wear unauthorized military medals. In court, Weber admitted that he wore several medals that he didn't earn at a Marine Corps birthday ...
Criminal Defense Attorney / Criminal... - http://www.ashura-metal.com/

Former Marine admits wearing phony medals; prosecutors recommend ...

Los Angeles Times (blog)
Weber was charged under the federal Stolen Valor Act. Marines attending the Ramona party were immediately suspicious of Weber, according to court documents. ...

Feds take aim at phony war heroes

San Diego Union Tribune
Congress started getting tougher on these frauds in 2005 when it passed the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it illegal for people to claim — verbally or in ...
Is it illegal to wear medals you haven't earned?
BBC News
In the United States, there have been about 60 cases since the Stolen Valor Act became law in 2006. Most involve people trying to gain recognition or ...
 

GARY LAKIS


Service questioned: Some say veteran's decorated record false

El Paso Times
Critics accuse Jennings of dressing in a Special Forces uniform for events such as POW/MIA ceremonies, though he never was in such a unit. ...
See all stories on this topic
VIETNAM VETERAN (MAYBE) QUESTIONED ON POW CLAIM
VA Watchdog dot Org (blog)
The POW Network is mentioned in this story. They track the phonies and wannabes. For more about their work, use our search engine ... here . ...
See all stories on this topic

Request for Comments on a Draft Amicus Brief in the Strandlof ...

By Blog Feed
Request for Comments on a Draft Amicus Brief in the Strandlof Stolen Valor Act Case. I decided to take up the court's open invitation to file amicus briefs in this case (follow the link if you want more facts); the Rutherford Institute ...
Liberal Whoppers - http://www.liberalwhoppers.com/

British medal fraud arrested in UK - Page 2 - The OMSA Forums

British medal fraud arrested in UK Stolen Valor Act. ... UK Military Medal fraud exposed, frivilig, Stolen Valor Act, 0, 07-11-2009 11:54 ...

A Different Perspective: UFOs and Stolen Valor

By KRandle
In 2005 the US Congress passed the Stolen Valor Act which makes it a crime to wear ribbons or medals not earned. I have two pictures of him and in each he is wearing medals for which I can find no documentation. ...
A Different Perspective - http://kevinrandle.blogspot.com/
Stolen Valor, Reporting the Phonies - Marine Corps Community for ...
By MOS1310
Well this website gives you all a chance to report the wannabes to Federal law enforcement since the passing of the Stolen Valor Act of 2005. Some of the postings will disgust you I'm sure, especially the Marine wannabe Burton posted ...
Marine Corps Community for USMC... - http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/

Ramona Sentinel: Ramona man pleads not guilty to violating Stolen ...

The presence of Rizer apparently indicates the Justice Department's seriousness in prosecuting someone with the Stolen Valor Act, which was passed in 2005. ...
This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here » Blog Archive ...
By Jonn Lilyea
He also claimed to have earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V” for valor, Purple Heart with four stars, a Combat Action Ribbon and Vietnam War-era awards. The Coast Guard clerk bought the story and added the awards to Barnhart's ...
This ain't Hell, but you can... - http://thisainthell.us/blog/
VIRGINIA VETERAN PLEADS GUILTY TO STOLEN VALOR
VA Watchdog dot Org
He said authorities were alerted to Barnhart's false claims by a group of veterans who operate the Web site www.pownetwork.org . Mary and Chuck Schantag, ...

Retired Coast Guard officer pleads guilty to impersonating a Navy SEAL
Examiner.com
The case against him began when Mary Schantag of a website called POW Network got wind of Barnhart's bogus claims. She began an investigation that ...

Ramona man pleads not guilty to violating Stolen Valor Act

Ramona Sentinel
The presence of Rizer apparently indicates the Justice Department's seriousness in prosecuting someone with the Stolen Valor Act, which was passed in 2005. ...

SEAL faker pleads guilty in Stolen Valor case | MilitaryDailyNews.com

By WemeAdhemspah
Thomas Barnhart pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Roanoke, Va. to two counts of violating the Stolen Valor Act.Barnhart served a combined 21 years in the Navy and the Coast Guard. He joined the Navy in 1969, then moved to the ...
MilitaryDailyNews.com - http://militarydailynews.com/

Military Impostors Are Neither Few Nor Proud - Sphere News

He faces up to a year in prison and a $100000 fine for violating the Stolen Valor Act, which prohibits wearing an unearned medal or falsely claiming to have ...

Va. veteran guilty of false claims

Roanoke Times
Mary and Chuck Schantag, who run the site, could not be contacted Wednesday. Doug Sterner, a Vietnam veteran from Colorado who was a leading advocate for ...

SEAL faker pleads guilty in Stolen Valor case

NavyTimes.com
The case against him began when Mary Schantag of the POW Network got wind of the bogus claims. She began an exhaustive investigation that ultimately led to ...

guest commentary Fraudulent heroes who scream for glory

Denver Post
The problem has become so widespread that Colorado Congressman John Salazar, sponsored the 2006 Stolen Valor Act, which criminalizes false claims of ...

QTH.COM :: View topic - K4RFE LARRY E,GUGLE, has NO Integrity

Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject: K4RFE LARRY E,GUGLE, has NO Integrity, Reply with quote. This Ham has NO Interrity what so ever and should ...

Man pleads guilty to inflating military record

http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/232074  01/06/2010

Even as he pleaded guilty to inflating his military record, Thomas James Barnhart insisted he’d received a Purple Heart.

"I was given a Purple Heart with no paperwork in Vietnam, so it was as if I had made up the award myself," Barnhart, 58, said today in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Jacobsen said Barnhart didn’t stop with one Purple Heart. In paperwork filed when he transferred from the Navy to the Coast Guard, then in applications for disability benefits, Barnhart claimed an increasing array of honors. Ultimately he said he’d been a Navy SEAL, earned five Purple Hearts — each supposedly marking a combat wound — Bronze and Silver stars, and more.....

Man pleads guilty to inflating military record

Roanoke Times
Mary and Chuck Schantag, who run the group's ReportStolenValor.org Web site, could not be immediately contacted Wednesday. Doug Sterner, a Vietnam veteran ...

The Volokh Conspiracy » Blog Archive » The First Amendment and ...

By Eugene Volokh
Defendant is charged with violating the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 (the “Act”), codified at 18 U.S.C. § 704(b) & (d). As originally enacted, section 704 criminalized the wearing, manufacture, or sale of unauthorized military awards. ...
The Volokh Conspiracy - http://volokh.com/

Gathering of Eagles

Strandlof is the first person to be charged in Colorado under the Stolen Valor Act. The act, passed in 2006, made it possible to prosecute military fakers
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jan/03/ex-employee-kills-barona-gaming-boards-boss-self/

Phony Marine general appears in federal court

A Ramona man who posed as a decorated Marine Corps major general at a Veterans of Foreign Wars event appeared in a federal courtroom in San Diego on Wednesday with considerably less pomp.

David Vincent Weber, 69, faces a charge under the 2005 Stolen Valor Act of wearing military medals he did not earn while passing himself off as a major general at Ramona VFW Post 3783’s November birthday celebration for the Corps....

Website Blowing Cover of Phony Veterans

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579336,00.html
 "Another GTL Guest Column: "An Epidemic of Military Imposters" -- By Steve Robinson".
Marine 'general' now faces charge

Officials: He passed himself off as officer

By Jeanette Steele, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.
David Weber, (right) who is accused of passing himself off as a Marine general, talked to Lt. Col. Todd Oneto during a Marine Corps birthday
celebration. (Timothy Jay Hall / Ramona Sentinel)

FEDERAL COURT- David Vincent Weber arrived last month at a Ramona Veterans of Foreign Wars event in style: two stars on his shoulder and two Purple Heart medals pinned on the front of a Marine Corps uniform.Weber, 69, appeared in a federal courtroom in downtown San Diego yesterday
with considerably less pomp. He faces a charge under the 2005 Stolen Valor Act of wearing military medals he didn't earn while passing himself off as a
Marine major general at VFW Post 3783's birthday celebration for the Corps.....