TWO ARRESTED IN SEPARATE CASES

Gulfport, Miss
March 25, 2008

Christopher Billeaud, 52, of Biloxi, Mississippi, was arrested today on charges of false claims about receipt of military decorations and medals, U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton announced.

In a criminal complaint filed March 19, 2008, it is alleged that Billeaud did falsely represent himself, verbally and in writing, as having been awarded a Purple Heart medal for service in the United States Armed Forces, knowing in truth and in fact that he had never been awarded such military medal, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 704(b) and 704 (d) and that he did use, possess and exhibit a forged, counterfeit and falsely altered military discharge certificate in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 498. The complaint also alleges
that Billeaud used a false military discharge certificate (form DD-214) to obtain a State of Mississippi Purple Heart vehicle license plate at no cost for a vehicle registered to him. Purple Heart license plates are provided at no cost to military personnel who have earned the medal and the license plates never expire. Billeaud appeared before Chief United States Magistrate Judge John Roper in Gulfport today and was released on a $25,000.00 unsecured bond.

U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton also announced that John Wayne Lebo, 57, of Tylertown, Mississippi, was arrested yesterday on charges of false claims about receipt of military decorations and medals. In a criminal complaint filed March 19, 2008, it is alleged that Lebo did falsely represent himself, verbally and in writing, as having been awarded a Purple Heart medal and a Silver Star medal for service in the United States Armed Forces, knowing in truth and in fact he had never been awarded such military medals, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 704(b) and 704 (d) and did use, possess and exhibit a forged, counterfeit and falsely altered military discharge certificate in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section
498. The complaint further alleges that Lebo used a false military discharge certificate (form DD-214) to obtain several State of Mississippi Purple Heart vehicle license plates at no cost for vehicles registered to him, over a period of time from 1999 to 2007, and that he also used the false certificate to obtain a State of Mississippi Silver Star vehicle license plate. Purple Heart license plates are provided at no cost to military personnel who have earned the medal and the
license plates never expire. Lebo appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker in Hattiesburg yesterday and was released on a $5,000.00 unsecured bond.

Both Billeaud and Lebo face penalties of up to one year in prison and a $100,000.00 fine for each separate violation.

Assistant United States Attorney Ruth Morgan is prosecuting the case for the United States. The investigating agents are Special Agent John R. Ramsey of the Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Veterans Affairs and Special Agent Steve Callender of the Gulfport, Mississippi office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), along with agents of the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI).

Submitted By: Dana Nichol

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