The U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release on Friday that the jury found Michael Robin Wicker of Clay County guilty of one count each of wire fraud, mail fraud, using a false military discharge certificate and fraudulent use of military medals.
Court records show that Wicker, from 2015 through 2020, Wicker fraudulently obtained benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs by claiming he was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He also claimed he had suffered from combat-related injuries, had been a prisoner of war during deployment in Iraq in 2005 and was given the Purple Heart medal.
Wicker supported the fraud scheme using forged documents, including a counterfeit military discharge certificate and fake medal certificates, according to court documents.
The Department of Veterans Affairs provided him more than $140,000 in healthcare, disability and education benefits as a result of the scheme, federal prosecutors said.
During a one-week trial, veterans from the group Wicker claimed to have been a part of said he never served with them.
“Agents testified that federal searches across Marine Corps, and Department of Defense databases confirmed there was no record of Wicker ever serving in the military,” federal officials said in the news release.
A sentencing date for Wicker has not yet been set.
Tun Tavern, the birthplace of the Marines, will find new life in Philadelphia.
It is one of the nation’s most historic buildings that existed for nearly 100 years at the intersection of Water Street and Tun Alley between 1693 and 1781. A historical hub marked its place in history on Front Street, near Sansom Walk.
Six organizations were founded there and still exist from that era, including the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
Despite its popularity, the tavern fell into disrepair and was razed in 1781.
The Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation is a group of business leaders who intend to re-create the colonial-era institution as a nonprofit tavern and museum, just in time for Homecoming 250, the celebration of the Navy and Marine Corps in 2026.
The foundation purchased two adjacent lots in Old City, on 2nd Street between Market and Chestnut streets, and seeks to raise $16 million for construction.
Other Tun Taverns exist, one in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and another at the National Museum of the Marine Corps near Quantico, Virginia.
Philadelphia’s rebuilt tavern and museum will be known as The Tun.
According to their website, the foundation’s mission is to rebuild and re-establish The Tun™ as it was, a functioning mariner’s tavern reminiscent of colonial Philadelphia, serving period-influenced refreshments, food, and entertainment and offering an educational experience through exhibits, historical documents and special events.
All profits from operations of The Tun™ will be donated in perpetuity to support veteran causes, Masonic charities, educational scholarships and qualified charities as determined by The Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation’s independent Board of Directors.
The five Marines who died when their helicopter crashed during a storm in the mountains outside San Diego have been identified.
The servicemembers were aboard a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that was traveling during bad weather from Creech Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California for “routine flight training.” The crashed helicopter was found Wednesday, and the Marines were all confirmed to have died on Thursday morning.
On Friday, the Third Marine Aircraft Wing identified the Marines as Lance Cpt. Donovan Davis, 21, Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, Capt. Jack Casey, 26, and Capt. Miguel Nava, 28. Davis and Langen were helicopter crew chiefs, and Moulton, Casey and Nava were helicopter pilots.
All five were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
According to a statement from Third Marine Aircraft Wing officials, Davis, of Olathe, Kansas, enlisted in the Marine Corps in Sept. 2019 and had received multiple medals, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Lance Cpt. Donovan Davis.
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Langen, of Chandler, Arizona, enlisted in the Corps in Sept. 2017 and had received decorations including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
“We will miss him dearly,” his mother Caryn Langen told KNSD-TV of San Diego.
Sgt. Alec Langen.
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Moulton, of Emmett, Idaho, commissioned in the Marine Corps in March 2019 and had received the National Defense Service Medal.
Capt. Benjamin Moulton.
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Casey, of Dover, New Hampshire, joined the corps in May 2019 and also received the National Defense Service Medal.
“Capt. Jack Casey gave his life while serving his country,” New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu said in a statement. “Valerie and I are deeply saddened as we mourn the loss of these five Marines. Capt. Jack Casey’s death is a profound loss for his family, his community, New Hampshire, and the country.
.
Capt. Jack Casey.
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Nava, of Traverse City, Michigan, commissioned in the Marine Corps in May 2017 and had received decorations including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Capt. Miguel Nava.
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Davis and Langen were both crew chiefs and the rest were CH-53E pilots, officials said.
“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” said Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of HMH-361, in a statement. “Our top priority now is supporting the families of our fallen heroes, and we ask for your respect and understanding as they grieve. The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this challenging time. We will get through this together.”
Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University’s Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News’ TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.
A U.S. military helicopter carrying five Marines that was due to land in California has gone missing, authorities said Wednesday. Search and rescue efforts were being coordinated by the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar Air Station, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol, the Marine Corps said in a statement to CBS News.
The Super Stallion helicopter was flying from Creech Air Force Base in Clark County, Nevada, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego on Tuesday when it was reported overdue, the Marine Corps said.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection told CBS News it received a call at 2:20 a.m. that the helicopter was overdue.
Firefighters were dispatched to a location east of San Diego in the area of the Cleveland National Forest, a spokesperson with the agency’s San Diego office told CBS News. The area had rugged terrain and heavy snow was falling, the spokesperson said. Nothing was found at the location.
Cal Fire asked the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Border Patrol to help with the search effort. The forest is located near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The five missing Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, the Marine Corps said.
Alex Sundby is a senior editor at CBSNews.com. In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest.
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The Marine Corps has ordered a two-day pause in flight operations following a mishap involving a F-35 fighter jet. David Martin has the latest on the investigation from the Pentagon.
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A U.S. Marine Corps pilot is dead after a military jet crashed near the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California.
The pilot was found after an hours-long search by the U.S. Coast Guard and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department crews. Just before 11:30 a.m. local time, the U.S. Marine Corps released a statement saying that the pilot had been found dead at the site of the crash.
The pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft. The corps said that the Marine will not be identified publicly until 24 hours after all next-of-kin notifications have been made, their standard protocol in such situations.
The crash involved an F/A-18 Hornet, the base said in a news release on Facebook, and occurred just before midnight local time. The crash site is on government property, the base said, and no property appears to have been damaged.
The craft was operating out of the base, but was not part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is headquartered at Miramar.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
MCAS Miramar houses over 12,000 Marines, sailors and civilians. The base is about 10 miles north of San Diego.
The F/A-18 is a multirole combat aircraft flown by the Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy and several other nations, the Associated Press reported.
Only 10 women in U.S. military history have served as four-star generals or four-star admirals, the military’s highest ranks. Four of them took part in an exclusive interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell to discuss their experiences.
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Three active-duty U.S. Marines were arrested this week on charges related to the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Federal prosecutors said they were spotted in photos from inside the Capitol posted on Instagram.
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