BOSTON (WWLP) – A Pittsfield man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly falsely impersonating a U.S. Army veteran for over 30 years to obtain medical care and other benefits.
Charging documents stated that James D. Sommers, whose age is unknown, allegedly began impersonating a U.S. Army veteran as early as 1994. He reportedly stole the victim’s identity to obtain thousands of dollars in Social Security benefits and nearly $30,000 in medical care and medications from Veterans Affairs medical centers.
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Sommers most recently falsely impersonated the victim on February 20 to obtain medical care at the VA Medical Center in Northampton.
He also allegedly has numerous prior convictions in New York in 1994, 1997, 2001, and 2011, all under the victim’s name, for offenses including criminal possession of stolen property; intent to obtain transportation without paying; sale of a controlled substance; possession of a forged instrument; attempted grand larceny; grand larceny; and forgery…