A Pasco County man was arrested Tuesday on charges that he falsely portrayed himself as a veteran to gain employment.
- Stephen Lang, 24, was arrested June 28
- Deputies say he falsley portrayed himself as a veteran to potential employers
- In booking photo, Lang's T-shirt reads 'vet-er-an'
Deputies say that Stephen Lang, 24, was hoping to gain favor with potential employers when he told multiple pool store owners he had not only served in the U.S. Army but was awarded a Purple Heart.
Deputies said Lang went so far as to present a Purple Heart license plate tag from the Department of Motor Vehicles, which he obtained by falsifying documents.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says he also presented a counterfeit military discharge document, which, according to deputies, he admitted to downloading from Google.
Sadly, Brian Anderson, of Veterans Alternative, said it isn't all that surprising.
"What's really kind of unfortunate is stolen valor has seem to become pretty common and it's happening a lot more," he said. "I can imagine a lot of veterans getting extremely upset when there's stolen valor."
After his arrest, Lang was brought to the Land O' Lakes Detention Center.