Former Marine admits wearing phony medals; prosecutors recommend probation
A 69-year-old former Marine pleaded guilty in federal court in San Diego today to a misdemeanor count of wearing medals that he did not earn.
David Vincent Weber admitted that he wore several medals, including Purple Hearts and Legions of Merit, to a Marine Corps birthday celebration in Ramona in November. Although he left the service as a staff sergeant, he wore the uniform of a major general, but that was not part of the criminal charge.
Under a plea bargain, the U.S. attorney's office agreed to recommend no jail sentence and a year's probation. But U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruben Brooks is free to ignore that recommendation. The maximum sentence is one year in prison.
Weber was charged under the federal Stolen Valor Act. Marines attending the Ramona party were immediately suspicious of Weber, according to court documents.
-- Tony Perry in San Diego
Photo: David Vincent Weber, right, meets Marine Lt. Col. Todd Oneto at the Marine Corps birthday celebration in Ramona. Credit: Timothy Jay Hall / Ramona Sentinel
EDITOR'S PICKS:
I hope that this man does not receive any jail/prison time, the humiliation of his actions coupled with his picture being in national newpapers should be sufficient.
Posted by: anonymous | January 14, 2010 at 03:30 PM
A guy like him is a total disgrace. He represents himself as something he is not.
Posted by: wilson | January 14, 2010 at 05:15 PM
That's quite a promotion he gave himself, sergeant to general...
He should have went ahead and made himself a 5 star general...However, that would have been too obvious since there has only been five 5-Star General in history...the jig would've been up sooner...
This clown needs to at least pay a hefty fine because of the cost of the investigation...
Posted by: TheBigPicture | January 15, 2010 at 12:56 PM
As a Marine myself let it go, but I do hope he did us proud you know a staff Sgt is no joke but a Gen. is jump in rank Oh well he did do his time how about you ?
Posted by: Bob Gamez | January 16, 2010 at 08:34 AM
Good thing he wasn't a 2-star general passing himself off as a staff sergeant worker-bee. I would have supported the year in jail had that been the case.
Posted by: Paul | January 26, 2010 at 02:16 PM
as a vet myself i find any person falsly wearing displaying any ribons and or medals is a slap in the face to those who served and were awarded them but when a former memeber or the military that knows better does it that is just plain stupid and they should be held 1000% accountable
Posted by: russell pfister | March 01, 2010 at 01:44 PM