Sailors Net More Than Fish!

In breaking news – eight sailors were charged with arranging fake marriages to Polish and Romanian women, to increase their military housing pay and help the women obtain U.S. citizenship. Nice job guys and your timing is great too! Stupid is, as stupid does….Forrest Gump!

The Naval “CIS” Criminal Investigative Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement claimed that none of the women lived with the sailors they married. The sailors received $35,000 in fraudulent basic housing allowance payments, investigators said. One sailor was up to almost $2K per month! A Go-Getter!

The Navy stopped the allowances. That’s to be assumed of course. Where were the “bean counters” when these swabs applied for the obvious fraudulent money? If convicted, the men, from the USS Kennedy and USS Simpson could catch up to five years per count. It’s not clear if the women will face charges. Each paid $6K for the weddings to the GI’s so they could petition for U.S. citizenship, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The NCIS investigation began when a sailor assigned to the USS Kennedy, was approached by a sailor from the USS Simpson with the scam to get basic housing pay for marrying a Polish woman. The sailor who arranged it was supposed to get $6K from the Polish woman and the sailor that married her would get the basic housing allowance. But apparently, not the wife.

Five of the sailors went to court on Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Four of the men face charges of “conspiracy to enter into a fraudulent marriage” and “conspiracy to present false claims to the government”. It sounds like they’re taking this seriously (they take everything a little too seriously) and will be “hammering” these young men for their parts in the scheme that netted a whopping $35K!

Now, I’d say a reduction in grade and a stiff fine would be enough – even toss them in the brig for 30 days to boot, and a “BCD”. But we’ll see – it’s $35,000.00 dude, what’s the matter with you?

Well, it isn’t what’s the matter with me, I worry about the balance and even handed justice. It’s what’s the matter with a legislature filled with money grubbing “hustlers” and privileged Govt. officials – military and civilian, who spend that much money on air fare, hotels, hookers, food and booze for an overnighter at a lodge – because they’re above the system that they police.

We should focus on the BIG MONEY and put those criminals behind bars, not just these kids, scraping to get by. This is where the reports from the GAO of $400 crescent wrenches and toilet seat covers come from. This is where the influence peddlers, and taxpayer-funded freeloaders should be – (behind bars) – not just some kids trying to hustle a few bucks to make ends meet. Not that I condone anyone cheating the American taxpayer – ever, but there seems to be a double standard sometimes, to me anyway!

With all her faults – God Bless America!