PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) — A Pittsfield man has been arrested after allegedly falsely impersonating a United States Army veteran for more than three decades, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. James D. Sommers, whose age is reportedly unknown, faces a federal charge.
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Authorities said that, since 1994, Sommers has falsely impersonated a veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1979 to 1982. He is accused of using the victim’s identity to obtain thousands of dollars in Social Security benefits, as well as nearly $30,000 in medical care and medications from Veterans Affairs medical centers.
Sommers also has numerous prior New York State convictions in 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2011, all under the victim’s name, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The offenses reportedly included criminal possession of stolen property, intent to obtain transportation without paying, sale of a controlled substance, grand larceny, forgery and more.
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Sommers was arrested in Pittsfield on Thursday, authorities said. He was allegedly living under the victim’s identity at Soldier On, a transitional housing facility intended for U.S. military veterans.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the suspect has been charged with one count of false statements and remains in federal custody. He is scheduled to appear again in federal court on Monday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said…