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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
July 3, 2008
WICHITA MAN SENTENCED FOR CLAIMING HE WON PURPLE HEART
WICHITA, KAN. – Albert Barker, 59, Wichita, was sentenced Wednesday to one year on federal probation for making a false claim that he received the Purple Heart.
“Mr. Barker will be required to perform 100 hours of community service,” said U.S. Eric Melgren. “It is fitting that this sentence is handed down at a time when we are preparing to celebrate the founding of this great nation and to recall the sacrifices so many men and women have made on its behalf.”
Barker entered a guilty plea in April. In his plea, he admitted that in January 2006 he caused his American Veterans representative to submit a fraudulent Army General Order 164, which had been altered by Barker to represent that Barker had been awarded a Purple Heart medal.
A Purple Heart is a medal awarded by the president of the United States to a member of the military who was wounded or killed in the line of duty.
Melgren commended the Veterans Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
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