Local Man Pleads Guilty to Posing as a Purple Heart Awardee

Mark Chartrand, 46, of St. Louis pleaded guilty to one count of violation of the Stolen Valor Act for posing as a purple heart awardee. Chartrand pleaded guilty before Judge Henry E. Autrey who accepted his plea and set his sentencing for August 22, 2017. Chartrand will remain in custody until sentencing.

According to the plea agreement, Chartrand traveled from Missouri to California and, while there, convinced his AirBNB hosts to extend him credit and lend him money based in part of his distinguished military service and numerous awards and medals including a Purple Heart. Chartrand traveled under the false name “Mark Rhodes.”

Chartrand is a prior federal offender, having sustained a conviction for impersonating a federal officer in 2012 and convincing his then girlfriend to lend him money based on his status as an American intelligence officer. Chartrand faces up to one-year imprisonment, a fine of $100,000 or both. Restitution to the victims is also mandatory.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Defense – Office of the Inspector General – Defense Criminal Investigative Service.