I'm not sure this is the place for this article but I just felt that everybody on this site should read it and be on the alert for a possible similar situation.

:By Eric Moskowitz
Globe Staff / December 27, 2008

quote:
WOBURN - As an Army Ranger who served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, Nick Ford thought there was something suspicious about the man seeking holiday donations for military families at Ford's local Stop & Shop

Paul K. Guilmain Jr. told shoppers that he was an Iraq veteran and National Guard member, but to Ford he didn't look like anyone who'd seen duty in years. The paunchy 44year-old slouched, went hatless, and wore outdated woodland camouflage fatigues - the kind with the green, black, brown, and beige pattern, not the more modern design. The rank on his sleeve, corporal,didn't fit with his age.

"It took every ounce of restraint not to rip this guy's face off," said Ford, who opted instead for friendliness and a discreet
investigation. His sleuthing led to Guilmain's arrest on Christmas Eve at the Woburn Super Stop & Shop, near Ford's home.

Guilmain, who lives in Lynn, was arraigned yesterday on charges that he posed as a representative of a national veterans organization and pocketed the money for himself.

"I just chatted him up, got all buddy-buddy with him. I even put five bucks in his little jar just to keep it cool," said Ford, a 23-year-old Purple Heart recipient, in an interview outside the supermarket. "He trusted that I wasn't onto him, [but] the second I left this place I was already investigating him."

Guilmain toted a clipboard with a letter that appeared to be from the National Veterans Foundation, and he had the foundation's logo on his collection jar, authorities said.
Additionally, Guilmain - who had permission to solicit inside the store from the supermarket's manager - decorated a festive, if grammatically incorrect, poster proclaiming "MILITARY FAMILY'S FOR THE HOLIDAYS."

But Guilmain had no connection with the national foundation, a Los Angeles-based organization that does not solicit in person
and that provides counseling and referral services to veterans.

Tyrone Ballesteros,the agency's office manager, said Ford called a few weeks ago asking about the agency's supposed Woburn representative. "I said, 'No, we don't have any representatives in Boston," Ballesteros said yesterday, praising Ford's diligence.

"He was the one that actually did really all the work in getting this guy off the streets and getting him arrested," he said. "This
Iraqi vet was just so upset and so angry that someone would be representing veterans like that."

Ford said he did not want to "bring the cavalry in" without being certain Guilmain was not legitimate. So he monitored the supermarket, he said, and waited for Guilmain to arrive on
Christmas Eve before calling the police. Ford then met Patrolman William F. Murphy Jr. outside the supermarket and led him to Guilmain.

Police handcuffed Guilmain, on an outstanding warrant from Salem;the new charges would follow at the station. Police also confiscated the $150.27 he had collected that afternoon, according to Murphy's report.

With Guilmain still in handcuffs and camouflage cargo pants, a prosecutor in Woburn District Court yesterday cited his criminal history - which she said includes 22 convictions including several on larceny and stolen-property charges, and the use of multiple
aliases - in asking for bail to be set at $1,000.

"This particular case is a case that involves deceit and fraud against society," said Amanda Rowan, assistant Middlesex district attorney.

Guilmain's court-appointed lawyer asked for his client to be released, so he could take medication he missed while spending Christmas in police custody, and so he could resolve a default warrant from Salem District Court, where he owed money related to a past larceny pleading and probation matter.

Judge Margaret R. Hinkle set bail at $500, ordering that Guilmain post bail and proceed to Salem or be taken to Middlesex Jail, where she recommended that he receive medical attention.
Guilmain pleaded not guilty to charges of larceny under $250 by false pretense and falsely using an association's name. He
did not post bail.

Guilmain apparently lifted the National Veterans Foundation's logo - a stylized eagle, with stars and stripes - from its website, Ballesteros said. "We're angry that we're being misrepresented, and we're not receiving any of the funds to help veterans out," he said, adding that he hoped the matter would not discourage donors from giving to legitimate veterans' organizations.

A spokesman for Stop & Shop said the chain employs a "fairly rigorous vetting process" for charity requests, but the policy would now be reviewed.

"We'll go back and take a really good, hard, long look at it to make sure we don't have this type of repetition in any of our stores," spokesman Gary Lewi said.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company. yep:

Way to Go Nick Ford!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sgtleo

Great article, Sarge! It's just too bad this slug couldn't be prosecuted under the Stolen Valor Act and spend some serious time in prison. Way to go, Mr. Ford!

If you don't care, Sarge, I will move this to the General Military History board to see if it will get more traction.

Roger that USNVET

I'm not sure this is the place for this article but I just felt that everybody on this site should read it and be on the alert for a possible similar situation.

Have to admit although it's practically in my back yard I found posting on another site - my bad!!


Sgtleo

quote:

The...44year-old... The rank on his sleeve, corporal,didn't fit with his age.

For the record, a 42 year old Corporal was killed in Iraq Afghanistan within the last week or so - as reported on ABC yesterday morning.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tip_dog,

tip_dog

Point well taken about the age. My son(Plt. Sgt.) was over 50 when given a medical for a back injury. He was ape when they retired him!!

Sgtleo

quote:

For the record, a 42 year old Corporal was killed in Iraq witing the last week or so - as reported on ABC yesterday morning.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1044-08
December 29, 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cpl. Charles P. Gaffney Jr., 42, of Phoenix, Ariz., died Dec. 24 in Paktika, Afghanistan, when his combat outpost received enemy rocket fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

For more information media may contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at (270) 798-9966, or go http://www.campbell.army.mil/eh/eaglehonors.htm .

quote:

Originally posted by Sgtleo:


tip_dog

Point well taken about the age. My son(Plt. Sgt.) was over 50 when given a medical for a back injury. He was ape when they retired him!!

Sgtleo

I'm happy that this guy was caught,BUT lets don't jump on the to old for the rank part too quickly. I went to a Welcome Home for a national Guard unit recently. I talked to a 54 yearold SSGT. A few years ago(3). I was in Jefferson City,Mo. at a Wal Mart. A NTL.GRD. Unit from Neb was being bused from FT Leonardwood to Omaha,NE. I got to talking to a 51 yr.old E-7. He told me that no family members were told they were coming back,NO one met them at Leonardwood and thay were riding busses to Omaha. I couldn't Belive it. With Offit AFB & OMAHA INTL.airport within five miles of thier Armory the had to ride 475 miles in a bus. I wonder what happened to the state side family support unit for thier unit. My point here is don't judge a man by his age or rank. The man could have said he was there duering Desert Storm and got away with it. If memory serves me correctly in 2002 &03 A lot of our troops still wore BDU'S. I stand to be corrected.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ordmate,

Just for the record:: An army captian was arrested for wearing several unearned medal's & wearing a 3rd. I.D. patch on his Right shoulder. He was naver deployed. I also read where a Light colonal was found guilty of having a fellow officer take a paternty test for him.He,married, got an E-4 pregnet, She,also married, At the time, has a 10 yr.old Daughter An Officer and a gentleman by act of congress, not by his way of life

Just to update this. A 60 year old Army major was killed in Afghanistan last week. He had been in the Vietnam war Served in the Guard for twenty years then went back in. I'm not trying to cause trouble but don't judge a book till you've read a couple of chapters.