A man admitted Wednesday he had falsely claimed to be a wounded Iraqi War veteran to fraudulently obtain at least $40,000 to play professional golf, according to court documents.
Michael Duye Campbell, 30, of Houston, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Dallas to one count of mail fraud in a plea deal with prosecutors.
He faces up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing is set for July 19.
Campbell carried out an elaborate scheme, claiming he was on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq, and suffered a serious brain injury in an explosion that left him unable to speak for a while, prosecutors said. When he regained his speech, he claimed he stuttered and suffered memory loss.
An FBI investigation found Campbell was a U.S. Marine from 2000 to 2004 but never deployed overseas and was never injured in combat. Prosecutors said he was raising money to play in the PGA.
Using the story, he obtained many things of value, including automobile payments, automobile insurance payments, utilities, room and board, transportation, living expenses and golf tournament entry fees, prosecutors said.
Vola, a Richardson company that sells athletic apparel and shoes, was one of the victims, prosecutors said.
