Fraudster posing as Delta Force vet defrauded 32 victims out of $12M by offering protection from drug cartel threats he fabricated

Article Title: Fraudster posing as Delta Force vet defrauded 32 victims out of $12M by offering protection from drug cartel threats he fabricated

Article Excerpt: "...pretending to be a highly trained special operations veteran was found guilty of defrauding victims out of millions by claiming drug cartels were targeting them and he could protect them for a steep price.

Kota Youngblood, 52, also known as Saint Jovite Youngblood, was sentenced to 40 years in prison...He claimed to have served 22 years in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and Delta Force, a highly covert and elite Army special operations force part of the Joint Special Operations Command, despite FBI investigators finding no military service records."

Reference Source: nypost.com

Can you be punished by the government for claiming you have earned a military medal if you haven't?

Article Title: Can you be punished by the government for claiming you have earned a military medal if you haven't?

Article Excerpt: "...567 U.S. 709 (2012) The Stolen Valor Act makes it a crime to falsely claim receipt of military decorations or medals and provides an enhanced penalty if the Congressional Medal of Honor is involved, 18 U. S. C. 704 (b),(c)...."

Reference Source: supreme.justia.com