Marvin Deboulet, a 51-year-old resident of Catonsville, Maryland, has pled guilty to wire fraud in federal court. The charges are linked to a scheme to unlawfully obtain benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkrammer from the VA Office of Inspector General and Special Agent in Charge Colleen Lawlor from the SSA Office of Inspector General – Philadelphia Field Division.
According to court documents, Deboulet enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 2010 but went absent without official leave (AWOL) later that year. He was charged with desertion and discharged under conditions other than honorable in November 2011.
Despite his discharge status, Deboulet sought medical care at a VA center in California in June 2012, falsely claiming an honorable discharge and that he was a Purple Heart recipient. He also submitted fraudulent documents asserting service in the U.S. Marine Corps and injuries sustained during military operations.
In October 2014, Deboulet applied for SSA benefits using false information about his military service history. Based on this misinformation, he received $143,128.27 in benefit funds unlawfully.
Deboulet could face up to 20 years for wire fraud; however, actual sentences often fall below maximum penalties as determined by federal guidelines and statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended both the VA-OIG and SSA-OIG for their investigative efforts and acknowledged Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon's role in prosecuting the case.
For further details about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office or community resources available through it, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.