(Tribune News Service) — A U.S. Marine Corps veteran pretended to serve several more years in the military than he actually did and faked positions and awards he held to support job applications and a disability benefits claim, federal prosecutors said.
Robert David Gulledge, 59, of Jacksonville, Fla., pleaded guilty Dec. 20 to a federal offense: one count of making a false statement to a federal agency, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
A federal public defender appointed to represent him didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Dec. 23.
The man served more than six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, from September 1983 to December 1989, until he was honorably discharged, according to an indictment.
At some point before or in 2009, he lied about his military service in a fake military discharge form that he created, prosecutors said.
The form said he served as a “reconnaissance man, parachute and scuba instructor” for more than 14 years, the indictment shows.
But he never did, according to prosecutors.
He also lied on the form about holding a counterintelligence/human intelligence position for more than eight years, a fire support position for nearly 15 years and receiving awards that he never actually got, the indictment says.
His genuine military discharge form, dated Dec. 20, 1989, shows he held a position as a “field radio operator” for three years and nine months and a “water safety survival instructor” for about two and a half years, according to the indictment.
In 2009, the man sent in the fake military discharge form in his application for an intelligence analyst government contract position, prosecutors said.
He landed the job, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
He also used the fake form for more job applications and to support a VA disability benefits claim, prosecutors said.
Specifically, he sent in the form to appeal a denial of VA benefits, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The man was investigated by the U.S. Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service Office of Special Investigations, the Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, prosecutors said.
He faces up to five years in federal prison, according to prosecutors. A date for his sentencing hearing wasn’t listed in court records as of Monday morning.
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(Joseph Barron/U.S. Air Force)
