Girl sentenced to jail for elaborate stolen valor fraud – Legislation Officer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A girl in Rhode Island who by no means served within the navy engaged in an elaborate case of stolen valor fraud by lying about being an injured Marine Corps veteran who was identified with most cancers. The crime went on for years earlier than it was found. The perpetrator, Sarah Jane Cavanaugh, pleaded responsible August 9, 2022, to 4 counts of wire fraud, aggravated id theft, cast navy discharge certificates, and fraudulent use of navy medals. She was sentenced Tuesday to just about six years in jail and ordered to pay full restitution for her crimes.

In the course of the ongoing stolen valor hoax, which lasted greater than 5 years, Cavanaugh, 32, masqueraded as a Purple Coronary heart and Bronze Star-decorated U.S. Marine who claimed to have been wounded by an IED in Iraq and to have developed service-related most cancers. The grifter’s each day crimes allowed her to gather greater than $250,000 in charitable contributions and veteran advantages, the New York Post reported.

“As we speak’s sentencing sends a powerful message to those that would signify themselves as one thing they’re not in an effort to revenue from the kindness and respect proven to our nation’s deserving veterans,” Particular Agent in Cost Christopher Algieri of the Division of Veterans Affairs Workplace of Inspector Common’s Northeast Discipline Workplace said in a statement.

The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of Rhode Island supplied the next particulars:

Courtroom paperwork element Ms. Cavanaugh’s “repugnant” legal exercise: falsely purporting to be a combat-injured veteran allowed her to achieve introduction to, and acceptance by, mates, charities, companies, and organizations whom she then exploited and/or defrauded. 9 veterans’ charities mixed to fund Cavanaugh’s journey to retreats, in-home care, fitness center memberships, bodily remedy, paying electrical payments, and supplied donated reward playing cards to be used in acquiring groceries and different necessities. Cavanaugh additionally used false documentation to fraudulently receive months of paid go away from two federal worker profit packages primarily based on her most cancers claims.

Much more overtly, Cavanaugh exploited her purported experiences to imagine management roles within the veteran group, together with as commander of a VFW Submit in North Kingstown, RI; gave public speeches whereas wearing full U.S. Marine uniform, full with a Purple Coronary heart and Bronze Star that she bought on the web; and secured a spot in an arts program on the College of Southern California, a program she described to a U.S. Military veteran she met by the Wounded Warrior Program who was later accepted into this system. In a letter to the court docket, the Military veteran faulted Cavanaugh for taking “a spot [in the program] from one other veteran who might have participated in this system and, in the end, could not have dedicated suicide.”

Cavanaugh was named commander of a Veterans of International Wars submit in North Kingstown, RI. (VFW Dept. of Rhode Island/Fb)

In whole, 9 veterans’ charities dished out cash to Cavanaugh, together with $207,000 from the Wounded Warriors Mission between 2017 and 2021, in line with the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General’s Office.

She additionally obtained $4,700 in charitable presents whereas fundraising to assist pay for non-existent medical payments attributable to the fabricated damage.

Cavanaugh by no means served in any department of the U.S. navy. (Youtube/Inside Version)

Suspicion of her false persona didn’t come up till early 2022. A veteran-based charitable group known as The HunterSeven Basis performed a background test into her navy service document when she utilized for funds. They found she was merely a social employee for the Veterans Affairs Medical Middle in Windfall and had by no means served in any department of the U.S. navy.

Cavanaugh confronted a most of 24 years in jail earlier than receiving an almost six-year sentence for the intricate, ongoing rip-off.

“Sarah Cavanaugh’s conduct in the middle of her scheme is nothing in need of appalling,” remarked U.S. Legal professional Zachary A. Cunha.  “By overtly laying declare to the respect, service, and sacrifice of actual veterans, this defendant preyed on the charity and decency of others for her personal shameless monetary achieve. I’m grateful that, with in the present day’s sentence, she has been delivered to justice and can face the implications of her actions.”

“People who falsely signify themselves as embellished veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces degrades the service of the women and men who selflessly serve our nation,” mentioned Patrick J. Hegarty, Particular Agent in Cost of the Protection Legal Investigative Service Northeast Discipline Workplace, the legislation enforcement element of the Division of Protection Workplace of Inspector Common. “Cashing in on such an egregious scheme is an affront to the U.S. navy’s long-standing custom of honoring and awarding its courageous service members. As we speak’s sentencing demonstrates our dedication to work with our legislation enforcement companions and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace to analyze allegations of stolen valor.”

“Sarah Cavanagh feigned having most cancers, and falsely claimed valor the place there was none, to achieve lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} in advantages and charitable donations. Her actions are an insult to each veteran who has served our nation, and in the present day she discovered her destiny for her legal conduct,” mentioned Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI Boston Division. “Make no mistake, the FBI and our legislation enforcement companions are dedicated to looking for justice for anybody who lies about serving our nation and illegally takes cash from federal packages that assist veterans who rightfully deserve it.”

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