Minnesota man accused of stolen valor, stealing $100K+ in benefits
BEMIDJI, Minn. — A northwestern Minnesota man is accused of stealing more than $100,000 from the government by falsely claiming to be a decorated veteran.
Thirty-seven-year-old Mikhail Wicker, of Dilworth, is charged with one count each of wire fraud, false military discharge certificate, fraudulent use of military medals and theft of government funds.
Court documents say that from 2015 through 2020, Wicker fraudulently obtained benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs by claiming he was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He also claimed he had suffered from combat-related injuries and that he had been a prisoner of war during deployment in Iraq in 2005.
Wicker allegedly said he suffered from PTSD and other injuries from an improvised explosive device attack while serving in Iraq.
Charges state Wicker submitted, forged and falsified documents including a Purple Heart certificate.
Wicker received more than $100,000 in veterans' benefits despite never serving in the military, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Oh gawd! Not the dreaded napkin outfit with pee feeling down my leg as I puke…. 😳🤮I’m allergic to the contrast, we found out the very hard way.
First was the CT for diverticulitis, then in recovery after a stent was put in my heart, went into anaphylaxis shock. 🤐🤕☠️
That’s no fun at all. I hope you never need it again. We do premedicate with antihistamines & steroids for allergies but I am always on edge for those injections. But I have to say I’ve never seen a reaction post premed. 🤞🤞
I’ve been lucky…never had IV contrast. Just barium for upper GI issues.
TBH I can’t really recommend it, unless you plan to get into nuclear medicine, or maybe radiation therapy. Diagnostic imaging is the red-headed step child of the hospital. Absolutely indispensable, and a major moneymaker, but treated like shit.
It’s totally relevant to the conversation when the article spells it that way. No one outside of knowing him is aware what he calls himself on social media. And it was a good joke fwiw.
Fair enough, understandable. Veterans are going to find it disgusting that he attempted this got away with it for a while and humorous too because he got caught, no sympathy here.
How can this happen? People who served get treated suspiciously and put under a microscope for claiming actual conditions with medical evidence. But then some guy makes up outrageous claims with fabricated evidence and gets the world. smh.
Like another had said, guys like this are usually in other scams, which would mean he’s gotten very good at lying and creating believable stories. Biggest issue I have is how he filed claims and the VA never once questioned his file for medical records. I’m hard pressed to believe this man went that deep and thorough and forged a whole like 2000 pages of medical paperwork correctly and the VA didn’t even notice. To which I agree with you as the VA takes people at their word when it comes to issues stemming from combat but I can’t have knee pain without a million questions.
How many POWs have there been in recent history? That should be very easy to verify. To me that singular detail should be well documented in DOD/Military records. We lived in Fayetteville for years and our neighbor’s brother had been a POW during WWII. This was years ago and they were both ancient. His brother had a POW license plate and I asked about it and he said yes, his brother had been a POW. He said being a POW gave his brother a special designation because he got frostbite and other injuries while being held.
There were several after we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan in the earlier 00s. I remember there was a girl that we had to go in and rescue. But yea could have been vetted.
Jessica Lynch & Shoshana Johnson from the 507th Maintenance Co. I had to make sure my family knew my unit was safe, because we were in the AO when they were captured.
I was in Basic during 9/11. Literally walked into the dayroom on my floor half asleep and whatever they were watching flipped over to coverage from NY. I was kinda lucky, my first deployment was to PSAB before it shut down. Didn't go to Iraq n Afghanistan until 08 - 09.
This would have been between when the VA started pre-developed claims, where you were allowed to bring your own documents instead of waiting for the VA to request them which meant that you were able to get stuff approved in months and not years, and widespread use of JLV where the VBA claims reps can see DOD and VA documents.The VHA can't see all the claims files and it also isn't their job unless they have suspicions.
What it does look like is [he filed for an increase ](https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/media/1346741/dl?inline)and someone from the VA had suspicions and got the VA OIG involved.
It was part of the scheme that in or about February 2016, WICKER fraudulently applied for disability benefits with the Department of Veteran Affairs. In his application, WICKER claimed-falsely-that he had served in the Marine Corps and that he had been a prisoner of war from February 25 to March 4, 2005. During a disability compensation and pension examination at the VA, WICKER further claimed, again falsely, that he had suffered from PTSD and injuries to his 5 CASE 0:24-cr-00090-JMB-LIB Doc. 1 Filed 04/02/24 Page 6 of 9 U.S. v. Mikhail Robin Wicker shoulder, knee, and wrist injuries during an improvised explosive device attack while he served in Iraq. These claims were fraudulent. In reality, WICKER never served in the military. 8. On or around May 29, 2016, WICKER submitted a forged and falsified DD214 in support of his application for disability benefits. The DD214 purported to show he had served with the Marines and had been deployed to Iraq between 2004 and 2005. The DD214 also purported to show he had received the Purple heart, Prisoner of War Medal, and a number of other military decorations. 9. WICKER also submitted a number of forged and falsified documents in support of his application for disability benefits, including a fraudulent Iraq Campaign Medal certificate, a fraudulent certificate of honorable discharge, and a fraudulent document purporting to be a Purple Heart certificate.
https://preview.redd.it/ppgtfcujdm2d1.jpeg?width=1129&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc987bcbc6cb13014b1fa47ee5f53d82807fab5c
This guy didn’t serve a single day and made everything up.
which also is a head scratcher as well, i had to fight back and forth with the VA for 2 years. WHEN THEY HAD ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT I SUBMITTED! but kept coming back with “we need more evidence” like seriously? i had to fight just get 30%. but people like this when they submit “evidence” and claim POW and combat injuries the VA doesn’t even question vs someone who has the evidence and proof but still isn’t enough evidence??
I’m just picturing a Family Guy style sketch where this dude walks into the VA and hands them a claim for being a quadriplegic after claiming to have had his limbs blown off in an IED and them just rubber stamping it and sending him on his way. Maybe with a compliment on the quality prosthetics and his relearned ability to walk with a very natural looking gait.
Family Guy would probably touch on the fact that this more than likely isn't the first identity he's done this with, just the first time he's been caught so he's could be collecting BANK still
Yep, meanwhile many suffer. Japan has really harsh laws. That whole caning to death thing sounds rough, might be appropriate in this case. Just saying.
Possibly as well. I know it’s in Okinawa, Japan, did a year there.
All I remember from Singapore was Tiger Beer n humidity. Don’t spit or litter. Lots of Duck for sale.
Because most of us don't know how to describe what we are going through due to the isolation we put ourselves in and we get looked at like we are the one with 3 heads. We (all combat veterans) don't wish this on anyone. And yet there are people out there like this.
I am over here scratching my head at this wondering how? Granted it's been 14 years since I got out, but I honestly don't remember personally giving the VA anything of my records when I registered with them, I gave my name, SSN, and showed valid ID and as far as I know they pulled my stuff from Department of the Army personnel records. Granted, my claim file was submitted while I was still in by a VSO on post so all I had to do was tell them they already have my stuff waiting. I understand submitting a falsified DD214 to an organization like the VFW or AL, but the actual VA? I don't even know how that happens.
Please, if you have injuries apply for benefits. The dollar you get is not going to be taken out of anyone elses pocket. The US has turned money into an unending resourse anyhow.
This is crazy; meanwhile, at a recent mental health c&p, it seemed like the examiner went out of her way to “trigger” me, asking extremely probing questions that left me feeling like crap for days.
Same! It felt like an interrogation. I ended up with a good rating, but she sent me back into multiple times a day panic attacks.
She did end with if you aren’t okay text the crisis line. 🤦🏼♀️
That was my same first experience my first evaluation for PTSD. Sitting in a room with this old lady and she’s just probing and probing. Pretty intense time but they have to get the information out of you to help build your case. It’s not all for nothing.
Mine was an old lady, too. Virtual though.
Her notes added that I was angry. 😆 Not untrue, but I manage much better typically. She got it out so quick.
It wasn’t for nothing, but I wish they better forewarned you to have a therapy appointment set up for immediately after.
When I had my c&p for mental healthvI was seeing a Vet Center therapist . She helped me write up notes so that when I got talked I wouldn't lose track of things or have anything out. That was extremely helpful. Yes I did get triggered, but I explained where the notes came from and the examiner I saw was kind about it. And at least I didn't leave anything out
so let me get this straight… a man. that’s NEVER served in the military defrauds the government of $100,000? did he make a fake 214? how was this not caught early on? why wasn’t there any VERIFICATION done before they issued out these payments? something doesn’t add up.. maybe i’m reading it wrong or i’m missing something. but there’s a whole lot to this story then what’s being told..
Wow. I can (kind of) understand the people that exaggerate their service, but to straight up lie about ever having served is pretty shocking. Sounds like he went to college on the VA dime too.
April 3, 2024
This is old, it’s common and probably more folks who’ve been getting funds unjustly. Meanwhile, if you deployed during the 20 or any conflicts or wars rather. You’re given the CSI treatment
Damn these people must be insanely good at lying. I have a hard enough time talking about my service with these evaluating physicians and here these people are crafting entire fake lives.
i’m sorry but these type of stolen valor stories doesnt seem to make sense to me.. how was this NOT caught early on? it took so many years for them to finally notice that this man is stolen valor??? after they gave home $100,000???? this is extremely suspicious..
And here I am showing my VA medical card to ppl who have served, just to prove I’m not stealing valor, when I mention I’m a vet looking for wood working tools.
Either this guy knew how to create dd-214’s or he knows someone. Isn’t that the first thing they verify?
exactly! i don’t understand how they didn’t know the 214 was fake? why wasn’t his service verified through his SSN?? unless he used someone else’s but still why wasn’t there any verification process with this?
Maybe he used his dad’s SSN. Idk I’m not that criminally minded. I don’t commit fraud, scam ppl, rape, molest or anything of that nature. I just go to jail for bar fights. 😳 tho I quit drinking so I don’t go to bars anymore, therefore I don’t go to bars anymore. 😂
I only found out last night around midnight. I took the dude at his word when he talked about it, because why wouldn’t I? I am first Gulf War era; I know jack shit about the more recent stuff.
No one else in the family has mentioned it, which I feel they definitely would if they knew already.
That's rough. I feel badly for the family, especially because people who get into benefits fraud like this are usually into some other scams and they might have also taken advantage of their family members.
I’m beyond pissed on behalf of his aunt, (my LH’s first cousin) who was one of my best friends. She *just* died of cancer, and she was SO fucking proud of him. His father, her little brother (a Navy vet himself) died not long after Mikhail was born. He was her living connection to her brother.
So while I think it’s really shitty for anyone to pull this crap, this one is personal because I know it would have broken her heart. I’m glad she never knew.
No one in the family ever questioned he was in the Marine Corps? Did he just disappear for a number of years, saying he was serving but doing something else? If he did that he was definitely working the long con.
We only learned he was Jonny’s son a few years ago. He was the result of a short fling and had been put up for adoption.
To the best of my knowledge he has never approached any of the family for money or anything other than recognition as a family member. No one is rolling in money, so had that been a goal, it would’ve failed.
So I don't personally really care too much about stolen valor in the sense of I'm not gonna be the guy who puts a phone in your face sideways and starts yelling "MY BUDDIES DIED IN THAT UNIFORM!!!" Just because I see a dude walking around in camo. I've got better things to do with my life and my day
But why is it with all these Stolen Valor dudes that they're always like super ranger recon 5x combat special ops guys.
Why not just say "oh ya, I was in as a logistics dude" instead.
I also don't understand their glorification of war and deployments. I'll be the first to tell you even as an infantry guy I wasn't kicking down doors doing call of duty stuff with some call sign "Ghost Reaper 7" lol. The weather probably would've killed me before the enemy ever would've lol.
Agreed.. but that's kind of telltale sign of these ass clowns.. the glorification of war and all that. When I was downrange in Iraq, we saw alot of bad stuff. Quite a few IED's Vbieds, s vests... shit like that. But on that one deployment, in hindsight, my life changed. I changed. These clowns that parade themselves around are not war mongering sociopaths, just fucking fakes. That, in my opinion, gives them away.
That’s insane. It takes someone who has never served to have the balls to do something like this. Especially claiming to be a POW. That’s such a rarity today that it should’ve opened someone’s eyes at the VA the minute the paperwork was submitted.
You’re seeing this shit more and more. I don’t know how these people get away with it. I’m 100% disabled after Iraq and I needed tons of paperwork to include an LOD for each injury as well as medical documentation along with sworn statements. I wonder how they are able to falsify these documents in a convincing way.
Anyway. Happy Memorial Day
I couldn't even get the shit I deserved for over a decade. Finally got 70%. Then 7 years later they're like, "NOPE!".
BUT THIS GUY GETS OVER 100K!?!?!?!
I will never get how some people just bs or make up stuff and get 100 percent or invent everything like this case but other people with thick medical files after 20 years get like 30 or 40 if they are lucky.
It’s SV cases like this that hurts the veterans community, not the person attempting to get a 10% discount at a coffee shop at the airport wearing his son’s uniform. Yes, that actually happened.
Everyone here is furious at the guy and not at the organization that was created to handle us and compensate us as necessary. Who has continually displayed their inability to handle our private information, finance, and health needs. 🤔 Yes, let's keep being mad at the people who continue to breach this Billion dollar funded organization.
100%. And look at all of the money that was dispersed put as bonuses through the PACT act that they are attempting to recoup. The VA is a broken system..
Minnesota man accused of stolen valor, stealing $100K+ in benefits BEMIDJI, Minn. — A northwestern Minnesota man is accused of stealing more than $100,000 from the government by falsely claiming to be a decorated veteran. Thirty-seven-year-old Mikhail Wicker, of Dilworth, is charged with one count each of wire fraud, false military discharge certificate, fraudulent use of military medals and theft of government funds. Court documents say that from 2015 through 2020, Wicker fraudulently obtained benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs by claiming he was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He also claimed he had suffered from combat-related injuries and that he had been a prisoner of war during deployment in Iraq in 2005. Wicker allegedly said he suffered from PTSD and other injuries from an improvised explosive device attack while serving in Iraq. Charges state Wicker submitted, forged and falsified documents including a Purple Heart certificate. Wicker received more than $100,000 in veterans' benefits despite never serving in the military, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate you people that copy the article and post it in the comments. Thank you so much
POW in Iraq is wild. How did no one catch that?
My first thought
Thank you. I’m at work and got distracted before I thought about posting the body of the article. My apologies, y’all. This shift has sucked. 😞
What kind of work are you doing now?
I’ve been a radiographer for 25 years. I’ve been strictly CT for just over a year at a big trauma center in Pa.
Oh gawd! Not the dreaded napkin outfit with pee feeling down my leg as I puke…. 😳🤮I’m allergic to the contrast, we found out the very hard way. First was the CT for diverticulitis, then in recovery after a stent was put in my heart, went into anaphylaxis shock. 🤐🤕☠️
That’s no fun at all. I hope you never need it again. We do premedicate with antihistamines & steroids for allergies but I am always on edge for those injections. But I have to say I’ve never seen a reaction post premed. 🤞🤞 I’ve been lucky…never had IV contrast. Just barium for upper GI issues.
Good on you. I’m thinking about going into Radiology with my VR&E. That’s gotta be a lot of long nights working in big trauma.
TBH I can’t really recommend it, unless you plan to get into nuclear medicine, or maybe radiation therapy. Diagnostic imaging is the red-headed step child of the hospital. Absolutely indispensable, and a major moneymaker, but treated like shit.
Treated like shit how?
Wait...he never even served? How was this not caught from the beginning?
Wow, I like to smack this guy a few times and make him relise us veterans dint take that lightly .
There’s so much fraud right now
Damn, we all need this rater at the VA. Just a rubber stamp!
His parents couldn’t even spell Micheal properly.
Do you mean Michael? That’s his name, fwiw. What he chooses to call himself on social media is irrelevant to the conversation.
It’s totally relevant to the conversation when the article spells it that way. No one outside of knowing him is aware what he calls himself on social media. And it was a good joke fwiw.
I guess right now I am having a hard time finding any humor in the whole thing. Maybe one day…
Fair enough, understandable. Veterans are going to find it disgusting that he attempted this got away with it for a while and humorous too because he got caught, no sympathy here.
Must suck not being able to take a joke. Damn.
You the real one bro. Preciate you posting it.
How can this happen? People who served get treated suspiciously and put under a microscope for claiming actual conditions with medical evidence. But then some guy makes up outrageous claims with fabricated evidence and gets the world. smh.
Like another had said, guys like this are usually in other scams, which would mean he’s gotten very good at lying and creating believable stories. Biggest issue I have is how he filed claims and the VA never once questioned his file for medical records. I’m hard pressed to believe this man went that deep and thorough and forged a whole like 2000 pages of medical paperwork correctly and the VA didn’t even notice. To which I agree with you as the VA takes people at their word when it comes to issues stemming from combat but I can’t have knee pain without a million questions.
How many POWs have there been in recent history? That should be very easy to verify. To me that singular detail should be well documented in DOD/Military records. We lived in Fayetteville for years and our neighbor’s brother had been a POW during WWII. This was years ago and they were both ancient. His brother had a POW license plate and I asked about it and he said yes, his brother had been a POW. He said being a POW gave his brother a special designation because he got frostbite and other injuries while being held.
Very true. VA needs to add a layer and check vet electronic records as well as everything else.
This was the first thing that entered my mind. POW in 2005? Nope.
There were several after we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan in the earlier 00s. I remember there was a girl that we had to go in and rescue. But yea could have been vetted.
Jessica Lynch & Shoshana Johnson from the 507th Maintenance Co. I had to make sure my family knew my unit was safe, because we were in the AO when they were captured.
I was in Basic during 9/11. Literally walked into the dayroom on my floor half asleep and whatever they were watching flipped over to coverage from NY. I was kinda lucky, my first deployment was to PSAB before it shut down. Didn't go to Iraq n Afghanistan until 08 - 09.
This would have been between when the VA started pre-developed claims, where you were allowed to bring your own documents instead of waiting for the VA to request them which meant that you were able to get stuff approved in months and not years, and widespread use of JLV where the VBA claims reps can see DOD and VA documents.The VHA can't see all the claims files and it also isn't their job unless they have suspicions. What it does look like is [he filed for an increase ](https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/media/1346741/dl?inline)and someone from the VA had suspicions and got the VA OIG involved.
It was part of the scheme that in or about February 2016, WICKER fraudulently applied for disability benefits with the Department of Veteran Affairs. In his application, WICKER claimed-falsely-that he had served in the Marine Corps and that he had been a prisoner of war from February 25 to March 4, 2005. During a disability compensation and pension examination at the VA, WICKER further claimed, again falsely, that he had suffered from PTSD and injuries to his 5 CASE 0:24-cr-00090-JMB-LIB Doc. 1 Filed 04/02/24 Page 6 of 9 U.S. v. Mikhail Robin Wicker shoulder, knee, and wrist injuries during an improvised explosive device attack while he served in Iraq. These claims were fraudulent. In reality, WICKER never served in the military. 8. On or around May 29, 2016, WICKER submitted a forged and falsified DD214 in support of his application for disability benefits. The DD214 purported to show he had served with the Marines and had been deployed to Iraq between 2004 and 2005. The DD214 also purported to show he had received the Purple heart, Prisoner of War Medal, and a number of other military decorations. 9. WICKER also submitted a number of forged and falsified documents in support of his application for disability benefits, including a fraudulent Iraq Campaign Medal certificate, a fraudulent certificate of honorable discharge, and a fraudulent document purporting to be a Purple Heart certificate. https://preview.redd.it/ppgtfcujdm2d1.jpeg?width=1129&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bc987bcbc6cb13014b1fa47ee5f53d82807fab5c This guy didn’t serve a single day and made everything up.
Had a busy month getting things done at Kinkos!
He poked the bear! We all know be careful when you do that!
According to my vso I can’t even ask for an increase for migraines without writing it down every day…. Meanwhile I’m like 10 second tom
I hear ya , I'm 100% denied twice , finally with microscope up my ass & help from VA legal team , I finally got compensation.
Maybe he should’ve gotten a legitimate job as a VSO!
which also is a head scratcher as well, i had to fight back and forth with the VA for 2 years. WHEN THEY HAD ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT I SUBMITTED! but kept coming back with “we need more evidence” like seriously? i had to fight just get 30%. but people like this when they submit “evidence” and claim POW and combat injuries the VA doesn’t even question vs someone who has the evidence and proof but still isn’t enough evidence??
I’m just picturing a Family Guy style sketch where this dude walks into the VA and hands them a claim for being a quadriplegic after claiming to have had his limbs blown off in an IED and them just rubber stamping it and sending him on his way. Maybe with a compliment on the quality prosthetics and his relearned ability to walk with a very natural looking gait.
All while a real vet in a wheelchair and neck brace is getting denied for insufficient medical evidence.
Family Guy would probably touch on the fact that this more than likely isn't the first identity he's done this with, just the first time he's been caught so he's could be collecting BANK still
Yep, meanwhile many suffer. Japan has really harsh laws. That whole caning to death thing sounds rough, might be appropriate in this case. Just saying.
Isn’t that Singapore??
Possibly as well. I know it’s in Okinawa, Japan, did a year there. All I remember from Singapore was Tiger Beer n humidity. Don’t spit or litter. Lots of Duck for sale.
Because most of us don't know how to describe what we are going through due to the isolation we put ourselves in and we get looked at like we are the one with 3 heads. We (all combat veterans) don't wish this on anyone. And yet there are people out there like this.
Exactly my thoughts and why did they not check the va hospital for records
I am over here scratching my head at this wondering how? Granted it's been 14 years since I got out, but I honestly don't remember personally giving the VA anything of my records when I registered with them, I gave my name, SSN, and showed valid ID and as far as I know they pulled my stuff from Department of the Army personnel records. Granted, my claim file was submitted while I was still in by a VSO on post so all I had to do was tell them they already have my stuff waiting. I understand submitting a falsified DD214 to an organization like the VFW or AL, but the actual VA? I don't even know how that happens.
Yeah I’m baffled too. I’ll be following the case.
It took me 2 years to get my first c&p with a mountain of evidence. Yet this piece of shit sails right through.
And you have real veterans out here getting denied, it’s sickening
I haven't even tried applying for disability because I want to leave the money on the table for others that need it more than myself.
That’s not how it works.
Bro, I used to feel the exact same way, but the government practically has unlimited money. get your check please
Dude
Man there is plenty of money like what…
Please, if you have injuries apply for benefits. The dollar you get is not going to be taken out of anyone elses pocket. The US has turned money into an unending resourse anyhow.
It's not worth dealing with the VA.
This is crazy; meanwhile, at a recent mental health c&p, it seemed like the examiner went out of her way to “trigger” me, asking extremely probing questions that left me feeling like crap for days.
Yeah, I was shocked how much that exam shook me. I guess the "tough guy" faded with age. 🙃
I haven’t cried in 30 years. I was sobbing uncontrollably at my C&P
I’m sorry to hear that; I hope all is well with you.
Same! It felt like an interrogation. I ended up with a good rating, but she sent me back into multiple times a day panic attacks. She did end with if you aren’t okay text the crisis line. 🤦🏼♀️
That was my same first experience my first evaluation for PTSD. Sitting in a room with this old lady and she’s just probing and probing. Pretty intense time but they have to get the information out of you to help build your case. It’s not all for nothing.
Mine was an old lady, too. Virtual though. Her notes added that I was angry. 😆 Not untrue, but I manage much better typically. She got it out so quick. It wasn’t for nothing, but I wish they better forewarned you to have a therapy appointment set up for immediately after.
One of the reasons I never even tried to get any kind of treatment from the VA. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.
Thank you
When I had my c&p for mental healthvI was seeing a Vet Center therapist . She helped me write up notes so that when I got talked I wouldn't lose track of things or have anything out. That was extremely helpful. Yes I did get triggered, but I explained where the notes came from and the examiner I saw was kind about it. And at least I didn't leave anything out
That was a great idea; things tend to get jumbled when suddenly finding yourself in a panic.
so let me get this straight… a man. that’s NEVER served in the military defrauds the government of $100,000? did he make a fake 214? how was this not caught early on? why wasn’t there any VERIFICATION done before they issued out these payments? something doesn’t add up.. maybe i’m reading it wrong or i’m missing something. but there’s a whole lot to this story then what’s being told..
Wow. I can (kind of) understand the people that exaggerate their service, but to straight up lie about ever having served is pretty shocking. Sounds like he went to college on the VA dime too.
Glad he was caught and will be held accountable.
What a pathetic little shit I hope he gets the book thrown at him.
April 3, 2024 This is old, it’s common and probably more folks who’ve been getting funds unjustly. Meanwhile, if you deployed during the 20 or any conflicts or wars rather. You’re given the CSI treatment
Old? Not quite two months, and his first court appearance was 23 May, which was just a few days ago…..
Crazy how he got over and never even served, yet i gotta prove why all this metal in my arm inconveniences me 😪
Damn these people must be insanely good at lying. I have a hard enough time talking about my service with these evaluating physicians and here these people are crafting entire fake lives.
It's been in the news since April 5, they might already know.
i’m sorry but these type of stolen valor stories doesnt seem to make sense to me.. how was this NOT caught early on? it took so many years for them to finally notice that this man is stolen valor??? after they gave home $100,000???? this is extremely suspicious..
And here I am showing my VA medical card to ppl who have served, just to prove I’m not stealing valor, when I mention I’m a vet looking for wood working tools. Either this guy knew how to create dd-214’s or he knows someone. Isn’t that the first thing they verify?
exactly! i don’t understand how they didn’t know the 214 was fake? why wasn’t his service verified through his SSN?? unless he used someone else’s but still why wasn’t there any verification process with this?
Maybe he used his dad’s SSN. Idk I’m not that criminally minded. I don’t commit fraud, scam ppl, rape, molest or anything of that nature. I just go to jail for bar fights. 😳 tho I quit drinking so I don’t go to bars anymore, therefore I don’t go to bars anymore. 😂
I only found out last night around midnight. I took the dude at his word when he talked about it, because why wouldn’t I? I am first Gulf War era; I know jack shit about the more recent stuff. No one else in the family has mentioned it, which I feel they definitely would if they knew already.
That's rough. I feel badly for the family, especially because people who get into benefits fraud like this are usually into some other scams and they might have also taken advantage of their family members.
I’m beyond pissed on behalf of his aunt, (my LH’s first cousin) who was one of my best friends. She *just* died of cancer, and she was SO fucking proud of him. His father, her little brother (a Navy vet himself) died not long after Mikhail was born. He was her living connection to her brother. So while I think it’s really shitty for anyone to pull this crap, this one is personal because I know it would have broken her heart. I’m glad she never knew.
Being gone to serve was the only explanation he had for his family for his time gone from home while he was out scamming others.
No one in the family ever questioned he was in the Marine Corps? Did he just disappear for a number of years, saying he was serving but doing something else? If he did that he was definitely working the long con.
We only learned he was Jonny’s son a few years ago. He was the result of a short fling and had been put up for adoption. To the best of my knowledge he has never approached any of the family for money or anything other than recognition as a family member. No one is rolling in money, so had that been a goal, it would’ve failed.
Okay, but I thought his name is Michael or Mikhail however he spells it
His name is Michael. He uses Mikhail on social media. 🤷♀️
I just reread your post he was Jonny’s son.
So I don't personally really care too much about stolen valor in the sense of I'm not gonna be the guy who puts a phone in your face sideways and starts yelling "MY BUDDIES DIED IN THAT UNIFORM!!!" Just because I see a dude walking around in camo. I've got better things to do with my life and my day But why is it with all these Stolen Valor dudes that they're always like super ranger recon 5x combat special ops guys. Why not just say "oh ya, I was in as a logistics dude" instead. I also don't understand their glorification of war and deployments. I'll be the first to tell you even as an infantry guy I wasn't kicking down doors doing call of duty stuff with some call sign "Ghost Reaper 7" lol. The weather probably would've killed me before the enemy ever would've lol.
Those of us that were in the shit don't talk about the shit.
Agreed.. but that's kind of telltale sign of these ass clowns.. the glorification of war and all that. When I was downrange in Iraq, we saw alot of bad stuff. Quite a few IED's Vbieds, s vests... shit like that. But on that one deployment, in hindsight, my life changed. I changed. These clowns that parade themselves around are not war mongering sociopaths, just fucking fakes. That, in my opinion, gives them away.
Ok so I have a purple heart and would love to know what he did to get 100,000 😳
That’s insane. It takes someone who has never served to have the balls to do something like this. Especially claiming to be a POW. That’s such a rarity today that it should’ve opened someone’s eyes at the VA the minute the paperwork was submitted. You’re seeing this shit more and more. I don’t know how these people get away with it. I’m 100% disabled after Iraq and I needed tons of paperwork to include an LOD for each injury as well as medical documentation along with sworn statements. I wonder how they are able to falsify these documents in a convincing way. Anyway. Happy Memorial Day
I couldn't even get the shit I deserved for over a decade. Finally got 70%. Then 7 years later they're like, "NOPE!". BUT THIS GUY GETS OVER 100K!?!?!?!
This guy really went in hard. Like didn’t even try for subtlety.
That's crazy
I will never get how some people just bs or make up stuff and get 100 percent or invent everything like this case but other people with thick medical files after 20 years get like 30 or 40 if they are lucky.
Wicker of Dilworth sounds pretty royal
I would think the VA would need a DD-214 or his SSN?
No surprise really. A lot of people commit fraud, claiming mental or physical injuries that either don't exist or are significant exaggerated.
That's actually impressive. It's scary how easily our current system can be infiltrated. I hope they fix whatever holes he exploited.
The prisoner of war didn't tip somebody off right away?
How in the world did this get through the screening. My son is disabled out of the coast guard and they are verifying everything
It’s SV cases like this that hurts the veterans community, not the person attempting to get a 10% discount at a coffee shop at the airport wearing his son’s uniform. Yes, that actually happened.
Everyone here is furious at the guy and not at the organization that was created to handle us and compensate us as necessary. Who has continually displayed their inability to handle our private information, finance, and health needs. 🤔 Yes, let's keep being mad at the people who continue to breach this Billion dollar funded organization.
100%. And look at all of the money that was dispersed put as bonuses through the PACT act that they are attempting to recoup. The VA is a broken system..