"Sommers was arrested Thursday in Pittsfield, where authorities say he had been living under the victim's identity at Soldier On, a facility that provides transitional housing for military veterans. According to charging documents, Sommers allegedly began impersonating a real U.S. Army veteran as early as 1994. That veteran served honorably in the Army from 1979 to 1982."
"Authorities say Sommers used the veteran's stolen identity to collect thousands in Social Security benefits and nearly $30,000 in medical care and prescription medications through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Most recently, on Feb. 20, Sommers allegedly used the victim's identity for treatment at the VA Medical Center in Northampton."
"Investigators also say Sommers amassed multiple criminal convictions in New York state under the victim's name between 1994 and 2011. Those offenses include criminal possession of stolen property, sale of a controlled substance, forgery, attempted grand larceny, and grand larceny, according to charging documents."
James D. Sommers was arrested in Pittsfield and charged with making false statements after impersonating a real U.S. Army veteran since 1994. Using the stolen identity, Sommers obtained thousands in Social Security benefits and approximately $30,000 in medical care and prescription medications through the Department of Veterans Affairs. He lived at Soldier On, a transitional housing facility for military veterans, under the victim's name. Between 1994 and 2011, Sommers accumulated multiple criminal convictions in New York under the victim's identity, including charges for stolen property possession, drug sales, forgery, and larceny. If convicted, Sommers faces up to five years in prison, three years supervised release, and fines up to $250,000.
Read at Boston.com
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