A former United States Marine, Paul John Herbert, has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts, to submitting a false application for a Purple Heart. The 54-year-old from Shelburne Falls admitted to making false statements to the United States Marine Corps through his local Congressman. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni has scheduled sentencing for June 17, 2025.
Herbert was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023. He faces one count of making false statements related to claiming disability benefits based on fabricated injuries.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated, “Military veterans deserve the respect of every citizen for their service to our country... Claiming valor for a false injury is an affront to all the members of the military who serve our country with courage and honor.”
Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office commented on the case: “Today’s guilty plea holds this defendant accountable for falsifying his service record to steal funds intended for our nation’s deserving veterans.”
Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Northeast Field Office, added that they are committed to investigating individuals who falsely represent themselves as decorated veterans and steal benefits meant for servicemembers.
The fraudulent activities began on October 13, 2010, when Herbert submitted multiple false statements about IED-related injuries to support his claim for disability compensation. As a result, he received $344,040 in overpayments from January 1, 2010, through March 1, 2023.
On October 24, 2018, Herbert requested assistance from his Congressman for a Purple Heart application that included a notarized letter falsely stating he had been injured by a roadside explosion.
The charge carries potential penalties of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.
U.S. Attorney Foley announced these developments alongside VA-OIG SAC Algieri and DCIS SAC Hegarty. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg are prosecuting the case.