Fake War Hero Dupes N.C. College
This story was written by CBSNews.com's Kevin Hechtkopf
Frank Strickland knew something was wrong when Lisa Jane Phillips told stories of heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan on her college campus in Raleigh, N.C.
The Meredith College student said she was a pilot, and wore an Air Force captain's uniform with numerous medals to prove it. Phillips frequently left school for a few weeks at a time, saying she was going on a mission.
But Strickland, the campus police chief and a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, was skeptical of her claims of two-week deployments to combat areas like Iraq and Afghanistan.
He notified federal investigators of his suspicions.
"He realized this is not how the military runs," said Frank Crocco, resident agent in charge of the Department of Defense's Criminal Investigative Service in Raleigh.
After an investigation, federal investigators from the Defense Department and the FBI arrested Phillips earlier this month and indicted her on 12 charges stemming from false impersonation of a military officer of the United States.
The government said her stories were made up and the uniforms and medals she wore were not earned. Her claims led to her tuition and fees being waived at Meredith, a private women's college. Her free ride totaled $42,178.
Strickland said he initiated the investigation because he was disturbed by the privileges that Phillips received as a veteran if she wasn't. He said everyone at the school felt duped by her.
"It's just totally wrong," he said.
Phillips, 34, of Cary, North Carolina, began attending the school in January 2002. Following her absences from the school, she would e-mail detailed stories of what was happening to school administrators, said Mike Saylor, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent for the FBI in Raleigh, whose office also worked on the investigation.
"Her story was so elaborate. She was involved in everything. She single-handedly saved the country," Cynthia Stroot, of the Criminal Investigative Service, told The News and Observer in Raleigh.
"She lived her story," said Saylor in comparing this case with other cases of military impersonations. "She went through a lot of pain. . . She took a long time on it."
According to investigators, Phillips said she had broken her arm during one mission and claimed to have recovered from another injury at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
Phillips bought uniforms, medals and flight suits over the Internet and at military surplus stores, investigators said.
The indictment said she wore 10 different medals, including a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal that was given out during World War II.
"Because she was wearing the uniform and medals, they believed it," Stroot said.
Due to the ongoing criminal case against Phillips, officials at Meredith declined to discuss why her tuition had been forgiven, except to say that it is not a regular practice for members of the military, and that all financial aid is handled on a case-by-case basis.
Spokeswoman Kristi Eaves-McLennan said the school is cooperating in the investigation.
"As an institution with a strong honor code, Meredith is deeply committed to maintaining an atmosphere of trust and honor throughout the campus," said a statement released by the school. "The college takes equally serious its obligations to maintain the privacy of student records."
Phillips' attorney, Woody Webb, said that his client had a personal problem which she is addressing, and that they are entering into plea negotiations with the government.
"My client will take full responsibility for whatever she is accountable for," Webb said.
By Kevin Hechtkopf
By Kevin Hechtkopf
