Marine poser busted in a gigantic way

[Vince]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... .DTL&tsp=1

 

In October 2008, he showed up at his 20th high school reunion at the Concord Hilton wearing the uniform of a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps.

The uniform displayed the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and other medals. That drew the suspicion of former classmate Colleen Salonga, who is a bona fide Navy commander.

Salonga asked Burton to have his picture taken with her. She turned over the photo to the FBI.

I can't find the other article I had open but I guess the Navy Cross is what set her off. They don't just hand those out so I guess that set her off.

OWNED

[busta_cap]

Mega fuckin owned.. what a fuckhead. He definitely deserves to get some justice from 'bubba' while he is in prison, but sadly, he will probably go away for a third the time someone can for 2nd degree murder..

[Fat_Santa54]

Isnt the navy cross the second highest honor in the marines?

Burton is one of 50 to 60 people who have been charged under the Stolen Valor Act since President George W. Bush signed the law in 2006.

The act, which expanded a law that had applied only to the unauthorized wearing of the Medal of Honor, makes it illegal to wear, make, sell or falsely claim to have earned military decorations.

I had no idea something like this existed.

[bigwally77]

That's the kinda shit that kills me because I'm an actual marine and this guy wants to go around and tell lies about combat and all those medals compared to marnines who have actually earned them I hope he gets a lot of justice from bubba

[sethb7290]

Isnt the navy cross the second highest honor in the marines?

Burton is one of 50 to 60 people who have been charged under the Stolen Valor Act since President George W. Bush signed the law in 2006.

The act, which expanded a law that had applied only to the unauthorized wearing of the Medal of Honor, makes it illegal to wear, make, sell or falsely claim to have earned military decorations.

I had no idea something like this existed.

second highest in the military .

[yammie r6s]

D bag- that reminds me of an email i got from a friend about a kid that did the same thing wearing dress blues in an airport in Nevada, got busted by a Master Sargeant in the Marines at the airport. He claimed to be a PFC but had Corporal patch?? In the picture looked like he was going to cry getting verbally beat down. What was best is the Msgt. promised to black ball him with any recruiters after making him remove the uniform immediately. like i said D BAG

[dnguyenaz]

Hmmmm sadly this is the 4th or 5th case I've heard of in 2 years. When I was in A school there was a kid who was in the Navy but passed himself off as something higher asking for donations.

[HavHav]

We had a PFC out here that got caught at the PX wearing CW2 rank, that shit was awesome.

Anyone remember the story over on LF.net about that PV2 or PFC who told his parents he was a Green Beret, gave them pictures of him with his ghetto hunting rifle, Green Beret, and PFC rank on his BDU's. He didnt think it was going to go anywhere and his parents were so proud of him they forwarded the story and pictures to the local paper... Shit got epic at that point.

[azsarge]

I have no idea what possesses people to do this sort of shit, but what they fail to realize is that it's a federal crime.

Be proud of what you've done and leave it at that.

If you are a civilian, do the right thing and get on with your life.

I've had the pleasure of seeing firsthand what happens to this kind of turd, and it isn't pretty.  Pretty much assume that you will never work again, after you get out of prison, and that there's a great chance you will get your ass beat physically.

This kind of shit is not taken lightly in military circles, and there are FBI agents dedicated to prosecuting, and locking up, posers.

As for CDR Salonga, she deserves a round.

[Kodiak]

I'd call ass beatings and a guaranteed life of poverty just a little excessive. Compared against the actual men and women who earn the honor, not the tin, he is nothing. And that is all that matters.

[Schwer_Punkt_91]

I had no idea something like this existed.

I am glad that it does.  I wish there was more that could be done to keep the honor "intact" for those that have earned them.  Stoning, canning and public humiliation come to mind...

Sections from the U.S. Code -- Counterfeiting and Forgery

  498. Military or naval discharge certificates
     Whoever forges, counterfeits or falsely alters any certificate of discharge from the military or naval service of the United States, or uses, unlawfully possesses or exhibits any such certificate, knowing such to be forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more that one year or both.
Emblems, Insignia, and Names

Title 18 United States Code

Sec. 702. Uniform of the armed services and Public Health Service

Whoever, in any place within the jurisdiction of the United States or in the Canal Zone, without authority, wears the uniform, or a distinctive part thereof or anything similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of any of the armed services of the United States, Public Health Service or any auxiliary of such, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Sec. 704.  Military medals and decorations

    (a)  In general - Whoever knowingly wears, manufactures or sells any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

    (b)  Congressional Medal of Honor **

        (1)  In general - If a decoration or medal involved in an offense under sub-section (a) is a Congressional Medal of Honor, in lieu of the punishment provided in that sub-section, the offender shall be fined under this title, imprisonment not more than one year, or both.

        (2)  Definitions - (A) As used in this sub-section (a) with respect to the Congressional Medal of Honor, "sells" includes trades, barters, or exchanges for anything of value.

            (B)  As  used in this sub-section, "Congressional Medal of Honor" means a medal awarded under section 2741, 6241, or 8741 of Title 10.

** [ Note: $100,000 fine max. for an individual and $200,000 fine max. for a corporation.]

Author's commentary:

Regarding 18 U.S.C. Sec. 702 and 704(a):

18 U.S.C. Sec. 3559(a)(7) provides that an offense having a maximum assessable term of confinement of more than 30 days and less than 6 months is a Class B misdemeanor.

18 U.S.C. Sec. 3571(b)(6) provides that the maximum fine for a Class B misdemeanor not resulting in death is $5,000 per count on which the Defendant is convicted.

Regarding 18 U.S.C. Sec. 704(b):

18 U.S.C. Sec. 3559(a)(6) provides that an offense having a maximum assessable term of confinement of more than six months and less than one year is a Class A misdemeanor.

18 U.S.C. Sec. 3571(b)(5) provides that the maximum fine for a Class A misdemeanor not resulting in death is $100,000 per count on which the Defendant is convicted.

Taken from:  http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies.htm

[azsarge]

I'd call ass beatings and a guaranteed life of poverty just a little excessive. Compared against the actual men and women who earn the honor, not the tin, he is nothing. And that is all that matters.

Once again, you are so far out of your lane you are in oncoming traffic.  

It's a Federal Crime.

It's no longer about honor or integrity, it's about the law.

As for getting your ass beat, it happens.  It all depends on who is nearby when the info is dropped.

[Kodiak]

A misdemeanor is not so excessive, now that I know that's the punishment. 6 months behind bars is good time.

I will, however, maintain that an ass beating is wrong. Assault, it's a Federal Crime. Leave the stoning and vigilantism to third world countries.

[Bow-tie Assasin]

A misdemeanor is not so excessive, now that I know that's the punishment. 6 months behind bars is good time.

I will, however, maintain that an ass beating is wrong. Assault, it's a Federal Crime. Leave the stoning and vigilantism to third world countries.

What do think would happen if this deusche went to prison? They'd do more than just beat his ass if you catch my drift.    :---)  :shock:  ...  

Maybe getting beat to within an inch of death would be excessive but he sure as hell deserves a busted nose and fat lip after pulling a stunt like this.

[Ganef]

Assault, it's a Federal Crime.

Nope, unless you plan to assault a Federal employee(or international diplomat) or do it in maritime or territorial jurisdiction... or punch a girl in the vagina.

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/7


I am cool with the neat things I have done as a civilian.