Mass. Man Pleads Guilty to Pretending to Be War Hero

(May 13) -- A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty in federal court to wearing military combat decorations that he did not earn while posing for photographs and volunteering at a children's charity event.

"It was a very clear violation of the Stolen Valor Act," Jay Agg, national communications director for American Veterans, told AOL News. "Frauds like this are dishonest, illegal and degrading to valor awards that legitimate veterans have earned."

According to U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, Michael P. Frisoli, a 46-year-old resident of Millbury, claimed to be a Marine first sergeant between June and October 2008. During that time, he asserted that he had earned multiple awards for valor in combat, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal.

Frisoli also made public appearances in full dress uniform, wearing the decorations. He even posed for photographs with state and local officials and appeared at a Millbury Board of Selectman's meeting in June 2008, at which he received a plaque from the town in recognition of his service and his work for the Marine-run charity Toys for Tots, Ortiz said.

After suspicions were raised about Frisoli last year, the FBI, Massachusetts State Police and Worcester Police Department launched an investigation.

Once enough evidence had been gathered, Frisoli was arrested in January and brought before federal court on a "stolen valor" charge. Subsequently released on bond, he was again arrested in April for violating the conditions of his release after authorities raided his house and seized heroin.

The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 makes it a federal misdemeanor for anyone to unlawfully wear any military decorations or falsely claim to have earned an award.

"The act basically expanded protections that already existed against the unauthorized wearing of military medals," Agg explained. "Prior to the Stolen Valor Act, it was illegal for unauthorized individuals to wear or claim to have earned the Medal of Honor, the highest award our country can bestow."

Rather than go to trial, Frisoli entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. Under the terms of that agreement, he pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of wearing unauthorized military decorations under the Stolen Valor Act.

Frisoli is expected to appear in court again on Aug. 5. He faces up to one year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine.

Agg is happy with the guilty plea in Frisoli's case, but said he remains concerned by the number of similar incidents that continue to pop up. "It's widespread ... practically every other day someone is caught doing this," he said. "They want the glory, the gifts and in some cases the good jobs and benefits."

The incidents come at an incredible cost to taxpayers not only in the cases of benefits fraud, but in investigating and prosecuting the cases. The problem will likely continue to grow, Agg says, until the government decides to take further action.

"There is a real need for a [federally administered] database," he said. "Until the Department of Defense does that, the problem will persist and continue to create a very real harm to veterans who have suspicions cast on them because of the phonies."