D'Amico Fights to Protect Veterans, Supports Measure Cracking Down on Military Imposters

Our military heroes make great personal sacrifices to protect our freedoms, and to think someone would lie about being a veteran so they could receive benefits is disgraceful. This proposal would ensure that the military men and women who put their lives on the line have access to the benefits they deserve, not some imposter.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Those who lie about serving in the armed forces in an effort to receive material benefits would face criminal charges under a new proposal being co-sponsored Tuesday by state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago.

“Our military heroes make great personal sacrifices to protect our freedoms, and to think someone would lie about being a veteran so they could receive benefits is disgraceful,” D’Amico said. “This proposal would ensure that the military men and women who put their lives on the line have access to the benefits they deserve, not some imposter.”

D’Amico is supporting a measure that creates a new offense when someone obtains money, property, or other benefits by falsely representing him or herself as an active-duty service member or veteran. The bill establishes the penalty as a fine of at least $100. In 2013, President Obama signed the Stolen Valor Act of 2013 in law which made it a federal crime to lie about military service and awards into an effort to materially profit. Currently in Illinois no such law exists specifically covering instances where someone lies about their service in the armed forces. D’Amico believes that con-artists who try and take hard-earned benefits away from active duty and retired soldiers should face steeper penalties.

“These crooks who lie about serving in the military should face the full force of the law and pay for their actions,” D’Amico said. “Every day I thank the true patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice. I will continue fighting on their behalf to ensure they receive the resources they deserve.”

For more information about these laws or any state-related issues, please contact D’Amico’s full-time constituent service office at 773-736-0218 or johnd@ilga.gov.