A former United States Marine has been indicted for allegedly stealing $344,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs and submitting a fraudulent Purple Heart application through his local Congressman. Paul John Herbert, 52, from Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, is accused of siphoning benefits meant for deserving veterans and fraudulently seeking a prestigious military award to boost his own stature.
Among the benefits allegedly pilfered by Herbert are disability payments intended to support the needs of veterans. According to the Department of Justice affidavit, he had been taking these payments from January 1, 2010, right up until March 11, 2023. In a brazen attempt to secure a Purple Heart award, Herbert crafted an application, which he sent to the United States Marine Corps via his local Congressman.
In this application, Herbert claimed to have suffered traumatic brain injuries in a roadside explosion while posted in Northern Iraq.
The indictment against Herbert has consequences—and rightfully so, if convicted of theft of government money, the potential sentence includes up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a substantial fine. Conviction for making a false statement carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and possible fines. In the words of United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, "every day, thousands of brave members of the military selflessly risk their lives to protect our country. Stealing from our country's veterans or claiming valor where there is none is an insult to the honorable service members who sacrifice for our safety."
