GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Former U.S. Marine Corps Major Jason H. Wild was found guilty by a federal jury in San Diego for his part in a four-year scheme to defraud the Marine Corps out of over $205,000.
In an intricate ploy, Wild claimed to rent the home of fellow officer and former reservist Lieutenant Colonel Michael K. Strom when called to active duty. In return, Strom pretended to pay rent on Wild’s own property. Both submitted forged lease agreements and receipts for their scheme.
Wild lived in his Oceanside, California home throughout the supposed rental period while he falsely claimed to pay $38,442 for Strom’s Laguna Niguel property. Five months after the fictitious ‘rental,’ Strom activated at Camp Pendleton and continued the fraud for two years, claiming to pay $98,736 for Wild’s Oceanside home.
U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy emphasized the severity of such crimes, stating, “Military service members who choose to defraud the armed forces deprive our nation—and their fellow soldiers—of the resources they need to complete their difficult mission.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; and Department of Homeland Security. Edward Denion of NCIS highlighted the importance of such convictions as deterring fraudsters.
David Canez from DHS OIG reinforced the commitment to hold individuals accountable for crossing the line into criminal activity. This case underscores the Department of Defense’s dedication to combating fraud and maintaining integrity within its ranks.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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