Former marine exposes a case of stolen valor
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- Опубликовано: 26 апр 2017
- “Honor is everything to a Marine,” says Andrew Van Wey, a former Marine.
Van Wey's fellow Marine, Casey Owens, lost both legs when his Humvee hit an anti-tank mine in Iraq in 2004. So when he found out another former Marine named Brandon Blackstone was falsely claiming to have been injured in that explosion, it was not something Van Wey could let pass.
STORY: on.wfaa.com/2JqxhCo
These con-artists need a lot more than 21 months in prison.
True.
21 years wouldn't be enough for this pig !
I was in the British army for 27 years and it is an insult to all who served. Jail them!
@@ghutzy341 69th cobblestone corps
I wish we could jail them. In the USA it is against the law to impersonate a police or federal agent. But the free speech rights allow somebody to impersonate or wear a military uniform. Pres Bush junior tried to make it illegal but the law was struck down. Just wrong
I was in the Peace Corps in Belize (formerly British Honduras) where active British military were stationed.
You British military have, I believe, a minimum of 7 years of service?
Tough, professional and some really cool guys there.
Casey is/was my cousin....it's so hard seeing his face again knowing I will never see it in person again. He was a selfless man who defended his brothers by making sure the IED exploded under him to take the blast instead of anyone else in the hummer while he was transporting other soldiers. Stolen valor is disgusting, how dare anyone take away from his sacrifice. He suffered so much on the inside, our govt failed him....I miss him so much, he left us too soon. I hope he is at peace now.
Semper Fi I am sorry for your loss. .
It’s terrible that this guy took Casey’s story and legacy and lived it for like 10 years while Casey struggled. Everything that Brandon was being praised for and all the attention should’ve gone to your cousin I’d say that it hurts that your cousin was unaware of all that. Brandon should’ve gotten a better prison sentence, the same that your cousin Casey had to endure. I am very sorry that Casey Owen is no longer with us. But never let his legacy be forgotten.
@@RG-ro9xm semper fi brother
Thats just fkn disgusting we have more honor and integrity than that then this scumbag comes along and steals Casey's story... it broke my heart when they said he killed himself...rest in peace marine and guard the gates of heaven until the rest of us get there to properly relieve you of your post brother..carry on SEMPER FIDELIS!!!!!!
Rest In Peace marine...but your statement is BS. He made sure the ied exploded under him? It’s an IED...an ANTI TANK MINE, that I’m sure they didn’t know was there? That doesn’t even make sense. If they knew it was there they wouldn’t have hit it. If that’s true, there would be a Medal of Honor hanging on the wall.
21 MONTHS!!!!!!! Are you sh_tting me!!!!!! 21 months for nearly $500,000 in perks stolen for a serviceman who really deserved it??? Man the justice system failed miserably on this one.
you go spend 21 months in a prison and see what its like, then your opinion might be valid.
Sentenced to 21 measly months in 2017, he is out now & must live with his horrific life decision, lying about a heroic act.
He is also court ordered to pay back more than $300k in benefits - another life sentence.
And he should also apologize to the family of the deceased Marine for stealing his valor.
21 months was a very light sentence for someone who ripped off real veterans like this.
I wholeheartedly agree. I've never been in the Military and it would be a SIN to even imply I was. I hate the " if I would've been there stories" too. I've done some decent things in life but serving in the Military isn't among them. I Respect all who have.
He also had to pay back a large amount of money. His life is over
He stole an entire house from wounded warrior project not even 2 years in jail 9 years collecting free money not even 2 years in jail wow people spend more time in jail for drug possession
It's been fifty years and I still think of my fellow Marines from Vietnam.
I don't understand these stolen valor types, and why they do it. May that young Marine Corporal rest in peace. I remember we had a Vietnamese saying "Dinki Dow" it meant Crazy.
They want the feeling of being special or the thank you we all sorta hate hearing and never know what to say back to people
@@samuelpancake4084 my uncle was in Nam, whenever someone thanked him for his service he'd just say "yeah". Never wanted to speak about his service and never displayed his medals or celebrate veterans day. You can tell whatever happened back in Nam he wants to keep it there
Thank goodness the VA and charities verified everything.
yes thank goodness!
Rest in peace brother
You were a legend
Boot licker.
Now this is a case Stolen Valor not some guy walking around a shopping mall with a camo cap on or camo pants on
Yep, to much videos of people harassing homeless poor people just trying to get by.
I know a man from the GW who lost his legs after the war and killed himself, either way he was a casualty of war. Nobody’s life is ever the same. In the 90’s I was told not to put it on my resume. What a position to be put in. Death before Dishonor.
Don't put what on your resume?
@@jed-henrywitkowski6470probably his military service, as outrageous as that sounds. Not sure what else he could mean.
It happens here in Britain too! It’s a crime that needs taking more seriously! Offenders need hitting with harder punishments! I find it disgusting that someone can actually take compliments for something false. Disrespectful to those who have actually served and given their lives!
Love and respect from UK 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
Obama said it was OK, and said it was freedom of speech. He watered down our Stolen Valor Act.
@@BruceWayne-cb2ys no he didn't. That's a false statement. Quit blaming someone else that isn't in the falt line for some idiots cheating the system .. this yokel did it out of either jealousy or greed
Meh, we're not Americans, we just punch these clowns on the snoz and move on. Don't get all weepy over it.
Horrific, to lose your legs in combat and to deal with those emotional demons, where's the justice for this marine. May he Rest In Peace and I hope to shake his hand in heaven
Guy stole money for 9 years ,and conned his way into a house. dude should be in prison until hes payed it all off.
21 months is not enough.22 years.
R.I.P. My Brother. SEMPER FI.
🙏🕯
Semper FI
21 months?? Should have been 20 to life! I’ve never served but you don’t pass yourself off as a marine or any other branch of the military.
Honor, Courage and Commitment....these values are the glue holding the US Marine Corps together.
As the father of a marine, knowing what they go through to wear that uniform, I can only imagine the anger at these fakers. 21 months was a pittance. Should’ve done 5 years.
@@billSteinberg Some don’t even go in to begin with.
That one brought tears to my eyes at the end. I know Casey is home now and his pain is over, but his sister's pain and that of his brother in arms was tough to watch. It's their pain (and the veteran's service, of course) that pays for the benefits received by military members and their families. A person who steals those benefits is among the most grotesque examples of humanity one can find.
I'm so sorry for your lost. To all his family and all his brothers and sister. Very painful to hear the lost of a hero
Loss not lost.
The picture of Casey and his dog breaks my heart.
this is just incredible..
Hope the wounded warriors and the others that gave him money pay a big price too. There are always scammers----but they should in no way be able to collect disability without being better checked out. This isn't just on him-----but on the two organizations that let down those who really deserved this money.
😂 don’t know why but I didn’t expect to hear that the real hero took his own life!? Tears literally filled my eyes almost instantly! 🥺THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!! 🙏💪🏼🇺🇸
I am Australian. I am also a Vietnam Veteran. I was an infantry soldier for my six years in The Australian Regular Army. I did two tours of duty to Vietnam. Unfortunately, since the war I have encountered & exposed more than one phony 'veteran'. It is normally not hard to pick them. It is in the way that they carry themselves, the way they speak, the way they wear their uniforms & medals & in their knowledge of the war & the units in which they are supposed to have served (fought) & in their lack of knowledge of the Australian Army & our slang terms etc. Unfortunately, unlike in your country, our authorities do not care too much about these phonies & are reluctant to follow up on our complaints & to pursue & charge them. When they are charged however & found guilty, their sentences are usually an insult to real Veterans. If I live for long enough, perhaps this will change, but I don't hold much hope. At least in your country you take the issue seriously. Dennis Moore - AUSTRALIA.
Thank you for your service sir from J USA
@@jldog134 As we say in Australia "No worries mate". All the best to you. Dennis.
This is really really low down. I'm glad he was exposed.
21 months? Wow the US system really is broken smh. He should’ve gotten at least 10 years.
These piles of junk who take the honor of our Soldiers who have given their hearts, bodies and blood for our country should be federally prosecuted and sent to prison.
Rest in Peace Brother
It’s sad how far people will take a lie
This is so Heartbreaking ,
He was only "sentenced" to 21 months in jail, which means that he probably got out between 12 and 16 months!
So sad that people are like that in the world
God Bless-you Marine R I P 🙏🌹from a uk veteran
Sad how dude stole his Valor.
I love our military and anyone that tries to profit off it that didn't even go through basic training is a disgrace.
40,000 military veterans are currently homeless in the US,abandoned and sleeping rough.Where is their help ?
@@scpplumbing7118 But nice to know we have a place off the streets for every illegal alien that sneaks in.
Lying on that level, getting that deep and still going is hard to fathom...
Check out don shipley and phoney navy seals. Don is awesome exposing them.
1:01 …”the branch of service known to be the smallest.”
🤔
Marines have 182,000 members and the reserve numbers are almost as many active duty USCG.
USCG has less than 60,000 on active duty.
The number was 35,000 when I was in 2002-2010.
Marines have never been known as the smallest branch of the 5.
Not sure Marines consider the USCG a branch of the Miltary. Lol
@@jimmylight4866 I was thinking the same thing lol
My neighbor, who I knew from a kid, came back home recently, he had been a Marine, and lost a leg. When I first saw him he seemed to be doing OK. Later he died, I never heard how, but believe it was suicide.
7 years behind bars will teach such scam a lesson.
What a piece of work😡
Dude did this for 9 years
Judge: 21 months seems right🤔
he needs to be out so he can repay the $300K he stole.
The toll on our service members is immense.
Heartbreaking 😢
This is bullcrap it took me over ten years to get my claims done and I was in the Navy for 30 years and I'm still fighting for my claims.
Ok?
I am pleased to see this man was sent to prison- because he stole valor for profit. In my opinion stolen valor of most any type should be punished, until that happens people will continue to lie about their military records, and money is usually at least part of their motive.
He should have gotten 10 year hard labor. 21 months is a slap in the face to everyone us who served honorably.
Agreed. Have him work off that 9 years of fraudulent disability, with interest.
Rest in peace sir job done stand down god bless love from Edinburgh Scotland
Perhaps they just forgot to report about the nine years of disability pay that he should have to pay back to the VA, with penalty and interest.
Hopefully the VA wasn’t as lenient as the DOJ was on his jail sentence. 🤞
No such thing as a former Marine
That guy should have got 30 years in prison!😎
Rip brother
Did they MAKE HIM PAY AT LEAST THE MONEY bank he stole.
Part of his sentence was that he had to pay back $322,000 that he received from disability. Don’t know what happened about the house.
Us Veterans know our own lingo, mannerisms, appearances, and overall stories. This fraud needed more than a slap on the hand BS sentence. He should’ve gotten a beat down from marines.
They should have given him 20 year in Leavenworth
Rip brother.
How can anyone sleep at night clamming to be a Veteran when everyone that knows you knows better/ (Ret.) USMC
i hope they made that coward give back everything he stole...with high interest
I always wonder how these organizations don't do some basic homework, like verifying people are who they say they are before forking over a new house.
I’m a former Marine and I think what that piece of garbage did was disgraceful and reprehensible. To capitalize on service men and women who lost their lives protecting this great country is wrong on so many levels. He should of received a prison sentence equivalent to the amount of years he said he was a Marine.What a loser!!!!😡😡😡😡👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿
Semper Fi, Brother
I'll see you at the gate.
This is sickning.
Disgusting. Shame on him.
Everybody wants to be a hero but they don't want to make the sacrifices and do the work! SMH!
You'd think these punks would be checked out more thoroughly before receiving benefits/gifts
RIP MY BROTHER.
Fair winds, devil! Semper fi, brother! 🦅🌎⚓
The was sentenced to 21 months that's not enough he should be sentenced to 21 years instead
Exactly!!!!
I receieved a house from the same organisation. And I was a spokesman for them as well. You guys do not even want to hear about all the benefits this guy got to experience!
Any disabled and honorably discharged veterans that dont own a home and are not felons...write me up here I could probably help you get a house from this organisation, as long as you meet all requirements...
How do I get a home?
@@killla you have to have been injured in combat. Does that apply to u?
RIP Casey
News desk is not sound proof - massive road noise present during this report - the cheap 'studio' undermines the topic's importance.
I flew M1 Abrams Tanks in the Navy... After that I flew B-52s for the U.S. Coast Guard... Then I was recruited by the CIA where I spent the rest of my Govt service as a Pokemon Trainer...gotta catch em all... that's what I did. My last classified mission was helping Jeffrey Epstein with his assisted suicide...
😂😂😂
Thank you for your service. 🙃
Dam you missed the epic battle of Waterloo with the German panzer division bearing down on Napoleons kamikazes
😃I watched the Cleveland show and now King of the hill,I tell you what!
What about restitution for all he's stolen from the system and that's just the monetary stuff
How about 7 years minimum instead of 21 months!
Wish we could have helped this Marine.
There is no such thing as a former Marine
The male news anchor sounds like Lando Calrissian!
Should force him to go through seal training every year for 9 years … No excuses
Don Shipley is comin’ for ya bro!!!
Several Sailors received the Purple Heart in Puerto Rico in 1979.
Why didn’t anyone notice he had legs🤷♂️
I would hope that someone has acted Justice since his release, the law didn't.
2:09 is that bush? what's he doing there?
Is it possible to get Benefits without a DD214?
Apparently, you'd think that would at least be a minimum requirement?
#respect
Is that a flying rod?
21 months.?? what about repaying the taxpayer and returning the house and all the ill gotten gains?
Brave men and women being sent to war on a lie.
i never got a mortgage free house and i am 100% disabled.
John Kerry exploits in Viet Nam needs investigating! He is a case of stolen valor.
Rip Semper Fi Devildog!
Stolen valor clowns are known as "posers" by most folks. We spell poser this way for a reason -- "POSer"
Says marine corps is the smallest, forgets that the Coast Guard exists because it's that small.
@Caleb P Oh boys we got another one that says Coast Guard isn't the military. Please, sir, return to your quarters.
@@xCosmicMuffinManx Coast Guard is part of the Military during War Time. Otherwise under the Dept. of Transportation-----I believe in peacetime.
@@dennisplatte7506 During peace time and war time the Coast Guard is part of the military. However, during wartime the Coast Guard will shift under the Navy and become part of the DoD. During peace time USCG falls under DHS, not DoT, although they used to be DoT. Nonetheless they are still part of the military, just not DoD.
"Honor" should mean something even if you're NOT a Marine! But no...
I wish I could have known him I would take him fishing and hopefully save him
WGAF?
Makes me ill for more than one reason..."W."