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    United States Attorney's Office
    Central District of California

    Thom Mrozek
    Public Affairs Officer

    (213) 894-6947
    thom.mrozek@usdoj.gov

    Return to the 2007 Press Release Index
    Release No. 07-121

    September 26, 2007

    WATER DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER CHARGED WITH LYING ABOUT RECEIVING CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

    A member of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District Board of Directors was charged today with falsely claiming to have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

    Xavier (Javier) Alvarez, 49, of Pomona, was charged in a one-count misdemeanor information filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Alvarez was charged under a section in the United States Code that makes it a crime to falsely claim to have been awarded a medal or decoration for service in the U.S. military. The section carries an enhanced penalty for those claiming to have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

    Alvarez made the false claim at a public meeting of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District board when he was introduced as a newly elected member.

    Describing the reason for bringing the charge, United States Attorney George S. Cardona stated: "There are only about 100 men still living who, because of their extraordinary valor and service to this country, have been awarded this highest of honors. By falsely claiming to have received the medal, Alvarez sought to mislead others into believing that he belonged in the company of these men, and all the other recipients now dead, who earned the award through their service to this country. He does not. This deception and the dishonor it does to the actual recipients of the medal merits prosecution."

    If convicted of the one count in the information, Alvarez could be sentenced to up to one year in federal prison.

    A criminal information contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

    Alvarez will be summoned to appear in United States District Court in Los Angeles for an arraignment in the coming weeks.

    This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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    Release No. 07-121
    Return to the 2007 Press Release Index