FAKE VETERAN PLEADS GUILTY

The U.S. Department of Justice says an Escambia County man has pleaded guilty to stealing over $200,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Justice Department said Richard E. Kohl falsely reported he served in the Marines during the Korean War and was discharged in 1961, but he never served in any military branch. He then filed a false DD-214 form to claim veteran’s benefits to which he was not qualified, receiving benefit payments and services between February 2005 and February 2018 totaling over $219,000. Kohl faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. The sentencing is set for September 19th.