Former U.S. Marine Sentenced for Submitting False Purple Heart Application

BOSTON – A former United States Marine was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield, Mass. for submitting a false Purple Heart application.

Paul John Herbert, 54, of Shelburne Falls, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to two years of supervised release with the first year to be served in home confinement. In March 2025, Herbert pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements. In September 2023, Herbert was indicted by a federal grand jury.

Beginning on Oct. 13, 2010, Herbert submitted numerous false statements to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) concerning IED-related injuries in support of a claim for disability compensation. Based upon these false claims, between January 1, 2010 and March 1, 2023 the VA overpaid Herbert $344,040.  

On Oct. 24, 2018, Herbert issued a request to his Congressman to assist with the application for a Purple Heart. The request contained a notarized letter from Herbert, that falsely stated he had been injured by a roadside explosion.  

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office; and Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.