Caitlin Lucille Walls Smith, who used a fraudulently-acquired military status and forged bank statements to buy a home in York County, has been sentenced to 30 months in a federal prison. According to a news release from the United States Attorney Office she must also spend three years of supervised release and pay $437,000 in restitution as part of her sentence that was handed down on March 28th. Smith was indicted in February 2012 for violations of the federal wire fraud statute and later pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud in November 2012.
According to prosecutors, Smith applied for an officer position with the United States Navy in the summer of 2008 while claiming to have: a Masters of Science in Chemistry from Duke University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Engineering from the University of Delaware. She was accepted into the Navy’s nuclear program as an ensign despite the fact that she had never successfully completing her college education.
In September 2010, Smith used her military status to apply for, and receive, a Veterans Affairs-backed loan to buy property in Felton. During the loan application proves, she submitted forged and fraudulent bank statements and other documents that were purportedly from the United States Navy. In November 2010 Smith received a $437,424 loan which she used to buy the property.
According to a spokeswoman for the United States Attorney’s Office in Harrisburg, Smith never lived full-time at the property but did periodically visit.
The Navy found out about Smith’s true past and she was court-martialed for false representation during her enlistment in 2010. She was also dishonorably discharged.
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