Paul Tillson wrap up

The other day, we talked about the sentencing of Paul Tillson of New Jersey for defrauding the Department of Veterans’ Affairs of tens of thousands of dollars based on his lies. Well, I got a copy of the sentencing agreement and it looks like he will indeed pay restitution;

In addition, Paul Tillson agrees to make full restitution for all losses resulting from the offense of conviction or from the scheme, conspiracy, or pattern of criminal activity underlying that offense, to Department of Veterans Affairs in the amount of $150,164.

We also got a copy of the VA OIG investigator’s statement and Paul’s lies go far beyond his uniform. We already knew from his records that he didn’t arrive in Kuwait until four months after the Gulf War in July 1991. But to hear him tell the VA doctors, it was still going on when he got there.

As reflected in the reports from the Compensation Exam, the VA diagnosed TILLSON with PTSD based upon his claim that he had engaged in a “dead body detail” while serving in the Kuwait Tour and that during this assignment, a decomposed enemy body fell on him in a dark tunnel. TILLSON claimed that he experienced “flashbacks” and nightmares from this incident.

On or about June 30, 1997, TILLSON underwent an additional Compensation Exam. During this Compensation Exam, TILLSON reported that while serving in the Kuwait Tour, an Iraqi soldier came toward him with a white rag tied to the end of his rifle and, instead of surrendering, the Iraqi soldier shot the lieutenant standing next to TILLSON (the ”Shooting Incident”). TILLSON claimed that he then opened fire and shot approximately 50 Iraqis.

TILLSON also claimed that, during the Kuwait Tour, he was subjected to “constant” incoming rounds and that he was involved in rounding up prisoners.

That claim was denied in 1998, so he went back for another shot;

As a result, TILLSON submitted an additional “Statement in Support of Claim” dated May 16, 2002 in which he stated, among other things, that he was “not sure of the date” of the Shooting Incident. TILLSON claimed that the Shooting Incident caused a Humvee to crash and tip over, resulting in the death of another U.S. soldier named Tyrone Bowers (“Bowers”).

TILLSON stated that the VA could attempt to identify the date of the Shooting Incident by looking up the Bowers death. TILLSON also indicated that a “Jack Hisson” and “Jack Jones” served on this assignment with him.

[…]

Law enforcement interviewed TILLSON’s commanding officer during the Kuwait Tour (the “CO”). The CO was TILLSON’s direct supervisor during the Kuwait Tour. The CO confirmed that TILLSON’s responsibilities in the HMSC were limited to administrative tasks. CO stated, in substance and in part and among other things, that he had never heard of a “dead body detail” and was not aware of any of the soldiers in the HMSC engaging in one.

The investigation revealed that Tyrone Bowers, the soldier who TILLSON claimed was killed during a shoot-out with Iraqi soldiers (i.e., the Shooting Incident), died in Saudi Arabia as a result of a motor vehicle accident that was unrelated to combat. Additionally, the OIG has not found any evidence that a “Jack Hisson” and/or “Jack Jones” served in the HMSC during the Kuwait Tour, as TILLSON claimed.

So Tillson doubled down on the dumb;

Contrary to prior statements made to the VA that Tyrone Bowers died in a HUMV accident during a shootout with Iraqi soldiers, TILLSON stated, in substance and in part and among other things, that he and Bowers were in a tunnel in Kuwait and Bowers stuck his head out of the tunnel and was shot and killed.

The OIG talked to Tillson’s First Sergeant;

Law enforcement interviewed an individual who served as a First Sergeant in the HMSC during the Kuwait Tour (the “FS”) and who had frequent interaction with TILLSON. The FS stated, in substance and in part and among other things, that he never saw TILLSON carry a weapon and that he did not believe that TILLSON ever engaged the enemy during the Kuwait Tour, let alone shoot multiple individuals.

I commend the VA OIG for thier work on this guy. If ever there was someone who needed to be caught, it was this guy – now if only they’ll go after Joseph Cryer.

Category: Phony soldiers, Valor Vultures