Miss. vets arrested over Purple Heart claims

[unhappycamper]

Miss. vets arrested over Purple Heart claims
By Nicklaus Lovelady - The Clarion Star-Ledger
Posted : Thursday Mar 27, 2008 5:49:31 EDT

Federal investigators on Tuesday arrested two Mississippi men who allegedly falsely represented themselves as Purple Heart recipients in order to obtain free vehicle license plates.

John Wayne Lebo, 57, of Tylertown and Christopher Billeaud, 52, of Biloxi are suspected of altering their “official military discharge papers to reflect awards and medals (they) did not receive,” according records filed in federal court.

In doing so, both obtained the Mississippi Purple Heart vehicle license plate, which never expires and is given to Purple Heart recipients at no cost, U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan said.

Purple Heart medals are given to war veterans wounded in combat by an enemy attack and are posthumously given to family members of those killed in battle by an enemy.

The arrests followed separate investigations by the Department of Veteran Affairs.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/gns_billeaud_purpleheart_032608w/