Fake Combat Veteran Drew Three Years of VA Medical Care — While His Claimed Service Years Were Spent in Prison

Dyson claimed Army combat service, a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, and took VA medical treatment from 2022 to 2025. He was never in the military — during part of his claimed service he was incarcerated in Massachusetts. 48 months.

Michel Duane Dyson, who was never a member of any branch of the armed forces, applied for VA benefits in April 2022 claiming active Army combat service and both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

From April 2022 until June 2025 he received VA benefits in the form of medical treatment through VA facilities and contracted providers. Investigators determined that during part of the period he claimed to be serving, he was incarcerated in Massachusetts for a sex offense.

His deception was uncovered in May 2025 when he tried to obtain additional VA housing benefits. Records also showed he had attempted the same thing in the Boston area in 2013 and been denied. He pleaded guilty to theft of government funds.

"acts of stolen valor by fraudsters, like this defendant, are despicable"
— U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida

Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida. Case file in the VA Fraud case files — part of the VA Fraud record. Cases are published as the courts decided them; amounts are stated as the Justice Department states them (billed, stolen, or ordered in restitution, as labeled).