Marine Pleads Guilty to Faking Hero Status

Crime Nov 3, 2009

Marine Corps sergeant David Budwah pleaded guilty on Wednesday to faking post-traumatic stress disorder and pretending to be an injured hero of war in order to get free tickets to sporting events and concerts.

At a court-martial hearing in Quantico, VA, Budwah pleaded guilty to charges including making false statements, misconduct, and malingering. If convicted, he faces up to 8 ½ years in prison, a dishonorable discharge, and a reduction in his rank.

Budwah was never deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq as he claimed to be, lied about helping in the 2004 tsunami relief efforts, and never earned the medals and ribbons that he wore on his uniform.

His lies of being an injured hero got him into at least 13 different events last year, including concerts, sporting events, and banquets. He also received a laptop computer and personal digital assistant from the Soldiers’ Angels, a program that helps wounded soldiers.

During the time period that Budwah claimed to have been fighting in Afghanistan, where he was allegedly injured, he was actually serving with a radio communications unit in Okinawa, Japan. After that he worked as a store clerk in Quantico.

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