Name: Former Pfc. Elven Swisher
From: Cottonwood, Idaho
The lie: Swisher claimed he was a Korean War hero who took part in highly classified missions to free U.S. prisoners of war. He claimed to have earned the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat ?V.? He also claimed to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder to obtain additional benefits from the VA.
The reality: He served in the Marine Corps on active duty from 1954 to 1957. He was demoted to private first class from corporal after being court-martialed three times during his service.
The result: The twist to Swisher?s case was that he was discovered after he wore a Purple Heart pin while testifying in a courtroom that he had been requested by a local businessman to kill a U.S. district judge, an assistant U.S. attorney and an Internal Revenue Service special agent who had a dispute with the IRS.
He was arrested in July and charged in the Idaho District Court with wearing unauthorized military medals, theft of government funds and two counts of making false statements, according to court documents. He could face up to 20 years and 6 months in prison along with a $755,000 fine, charging documents state.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/09/marine_faker_list_070916/
