BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore County man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection to a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration, federal authorities announced.

Marvin Deboulet, 51, of Catonsville, joined the U.S. Army in February 2010 and began basic training on May 5, 2010, per his guilty plea. On Dec. 2, 2010, Deboulet went absent without official leave of duty, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Deboulet never served in the U.S. military before or after 2010.

Deboulet faced summary court martial charges for desertion from March 22, 2011, to June 6, 2011. He was formally discharged from the Army “under conditions other than honorable” on Nov. 18, 2011, according to the office.

In June 2012, Deboulet sought care from a VA medical center in Loma Linda, California, authorities said. His treatment application indicated an honorable discharge and purple heart recipient status.

Deboulet also submitted false documents saying that he served in the Marine Corps and suffered combat-related mental and physical injuries from 2003 to 2005, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. He also falsely claimed to be the sole survivor of a Humvee bombing in Kosovo.

As a result, the VA provided Deboulet with unauthorized medical care and associated costs.

In October 2014, Deboulet sought Social Security Administration benefits in Hagerstown, the office said. He again provided false information about serving in the Marine Corps from February 1994 until November 2005.

The SSA determined Deboulet was disabled based on the information he provided, as well as a pending claim with a VA medical facility, according to the office.

The SSA awarded Deboulet and his son benefits, resulting in Deboulet fraudulently receiving $143,128.27 in benefits, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Deboulet faces up to 20 years for wire fraud.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels

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