A former U.S. Marine pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts to submitting a false Purple Heart application to the Marine Corps through his local congressman.
Paul John Herbert, 54, of Shelburne Falls admitted to one count of making false statements on March 11, according to a Department of Justice release.
Beginning on Oct. 13, 2010, Herbert submitted numerous false statements to the Department of Veterans Affairs concerning IED-related injuries in support of a claim for disability compensation. Based upon these false claims, between Jan. 1, 2010 and March 1, 2023, the VA overpaid Herbert $344,040.
On Oct. 24, 2018, Herbert issued a request to his congressman to assist with the application for a Purple Heart. The request contained a notarized letter from Herbert, that falsely stated he had been injured by a roadside explosion.
“Veterans know well that the Purple Heart honors those brave service members who were injured or killed in the line of duty. Mr. Herbert knew that he did not deserve this widely recognized and respected award, but that did not stop him from lying about a traumatic brain injury and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in disability benefits, intended to take care of veterans truly in need,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Claiming valor for a false injury is an affront to all the members of the military who serve our country with courage and honor.”
The charge of making a false statement provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for June 17. Herbert was indicted by a federal grand jury in September of 2023.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.