Carlos Felipe Luna-Gonzalez wore a Navy dress uniform affixed with lieutenant rank, jump wings, and a Navy SEAL trident when he displayed himself as a member of one of America’s elite fighting forces. The only problem–he’s a big faker.
The North Texas man was sentenced Monday for theft, failure to appear and bail jumping, NBC reports. Texas authorities began investigating Luna-Gonzalez in 2014 after being tipped off that he was falsifying claims of being a wounded Navy officer. He had told people in public and on social media that he suffered a gunshot wound in combat.
Though Luna-Gonzalez did serve in the Navy, he was a low ranking enlisted sailor.
Authorities busted Luna-Gonzalez in November of 2014 in an undercover operation in which they had a gun shop owner present him an assault rifle as a gift for his service. Luna-Gonzalez appeared to the gun shop in uniform to accept the rifle and was subsequently arrested.
He originally did not appear in court and instead fled to Puerto Rico, but was then extradited back to the US.
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said he is deeply bothered by the case.
“It is plain troubling. Our citizens pride themselves in honoring true veterans, just as the rest of the country. This man stole a title which has been earned by many through bloodshed of their own,” said Fowler.
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