Marine sergeant sentenced to 18 months to scamming for wounded-warrior freebies

Marine sentenced to 18 months in hero hoax case

QUANTICO, Va. — A Marine Corps sergeant who pleaded guilty to pretending to be an injured hero to get in free to rock concerts and professional sporting events has been sentenced to 18 months.

Sgt. David Budwah pleaded guilty on Wednesday to several charges, including making false statements, malingering and misconduct at a court-martial hearing on the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va.

Three and a half years of his sentence was suspended. Budwah was also fined $25,000, reduced in rank to private and will be dishonorably discharged. He must also forfeit all pay and benefits during his confinement.

Budwah acknowledged he was never deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan or injured, as he claimed.