Tallahassee Man Sent to Federal Prison for Theft of Government Funds in Stolen Valor Prosecution

Tallahassee, Florida - Michel Duane Dyson, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida, who misrepresented himself as a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran to fraudulently collect Veteran's Administration (VA) benefits, has been sentenced to a 48-month term of federal imprisonment for his misrepresentations and receipt of VA funds. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence today.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "The brave men and women of our Armed Forces have made innumerable sacrifices throughout our nation's history to preserve and protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans, and acts of stolen valor by fraudsters, like this defendant, are despicable. This defendant fraudulently claimed military service to gain benefits reserved for our nation's warriors, but thanks to the excellent investigative work by federal law enforcement partners and the successful prosecution by my office, he'll spend years in federal prison for his crimes."

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

Court records show that in April 2022, Dyson fraudulently applied for Veterans Affairs benefits based on his claims that he actively served in the U.S. Army, further claiming that he served in combat and had been awarded both the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. Dyson was never an active or reserve member of any branch of the armed forces. Investigators later determined that, during part of the time Dyson claimed service in the Army, he was incarcerated in Massachusetts for a sex offense. Nonetheless, as a result of his fraudulent misrepresentations, from April 2022 until June 2025, Dyson was able to secure VA benefits in the form of medical treatment provided either through VA medical facilities or contracted medical providers. In May 2025, Dyson further attempted to fraudulently obtain additional VA housing benefits, at which point his deception was uncovered. Records in the investigation revealed that Dyson had similarly attempted to obtain VA benefits in the Boston, Massachusetts area in 2013, but had been denied.

As part of the sentence, upon release from prison, Dyson will be required to serve three years on supervised release and was ordered to pay $28,118.37 in restitution to the VA.

"This sentence holds the defendant accountable for falsely claiming military service to obtain VA benefits intended for veterans who earned them through their sacrifice and service," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Wentz with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Southeast Field Office. "The VA OIG remains committed to safeguarding veteran programs against fraud so that benefits reach the individuals they were created to serve."

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.