Calif. man pleads guilty to wearing Marine medals he never earned
By APThursday, January 14, 2010
CA man pleads guilty to being phony Marine
SAN DIEGO — A 69-year-old Southern California man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge for posing as a decorated Marine major general.
David Weber entered the plea Thursday to a misdemeanor charge of making false claims about military decorations or medals. Weber, who has prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease, is expected to be sentenced to a year of probation.
Authorities say Weber had been a Marine staff sergeant but claimed to be a retired major general last November at a Veterans of Foreign Wars party in Ramona.
Prosecutors say he wore a full dress uniform with five Legion of Merit medals, two Purple Hearts and a Distinguished Service Cross.
Weber, posing as the highest-ranking officer, got the first piece of cake at the party, which honored the birthday of the corps.
