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Former Marine from Mass. pleads guilty over false Purple Heart application
Paul John Herbert, 54, of Shelburne Falls, received more than $344,000 in VA disability benefits by falsely claiming to have been injured by an IED.
A former U.S. Marine has pleaded guilty to lying about getting injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) and subsequently collecting several thousands in veterans disability benefits.
Paul John Herbert, 54, of Shelburne Falls, Mass., pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Springfield to making false statements by submitting a false Purple Heart application to the U.S. Marine Corps through his local Congressman.
A federal grand jury indicted Herbert in September of 2023. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in October of 2010, Herbert began submitting numerous false statements to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) saying he had sustained IED-related injuries as part of a claim for disability compensation. Based upon these false claims, between January of 2010 and March of 2023 the VA overpaid Herbert $344,040.
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On Oct. 24, 2018, Herbert sent a request to his Congressman to help with his application for a Purple Heart. That request contained a notarized letter from Herbert falsely stating he had been injured by a roadside explosion.
“Military veterans deserve the respect of every citizen for their service to our country,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “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. Claiming valor for a false injury is an affront to all the members of the military who serve our country with courage and honor.”
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Herbert is due to be sentenced on June 17. He faces 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.
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