Jeremy Wilson is a conman who ran a scam where he impersonated a wounded vet in order to reaps rewards meant for real heroes. Using his made up status Wilson was able to obtain a lease for a BMW in Boston and a lease on a high priced apartment in New York City’s financial district. He is a career criminal who very much resembles the character Leo Dicaprio played in the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” He has impersonated an airline executive, an MIT student, an Army veteran, and a member of an actors’ union, His conviction carries a 14 year sentence, during which time he will be impersonating a felon.
Wilson’s attorney tried to convince the court his client was simply being postmodern.
“Who are we to say what is true and what’s not true?” defense attorney Robert Briere said. “Who are we to say what’s happened to him and what’s influenced his life?”
What we can say is true is that Wilson had “at least eight” prior convictions, according to prosecutor Diaz, and the Post reports he had been arrested in Montana, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania for “similar stunts.” Also true: WNBC-TV reports Wilson had boasted about being a scam artist like Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in “Catch Me If You Can.”
That doesn’t exactly speak to a remorseful individual, and neither did Wilson’s attempts to make himself look like one.
“I’ve spent pretty much my entire adult life running and hiding from myself, and running and hiding from what I have done,” Wilson told the court.
“Of all the lies I’ve told other people, it’s the lies I’ve told myself that make living the hardest.”
Even during this facile speech, the Post noted that Wilson could barely contain a smirk.
Stealing valor is one of the sickest things that an individual can do, and this fake “wounded vet” is going to have a lot of time to think about what he’s done when he arrives behind bars.
I’d wager he’s going to be able to contain that smirk a lot better when he arrives in prison.
Dantheman