False CIA Agent Arrested

Wayne Simmons claimed to be a former CIA operative, and he has even done appearances and speaking engagements on FOX news. Federal prosecutors have come out and said that his supposed three decade long stint with the CIA never happened.

Simmons was arrested and charged with making false statements, major fraud against the United States, and wire fraud. While authorities were making the arrest, they found two firearms in his possession. Simmons has had prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Simmon's website he claimed to have served in the Navy and then he was transferred to CIA’s “outside paramilitary special operations group” and that he led “Deep Cover Intel Ops against some of the world’s most dangerous Drug Cartels and arms smugglers from Central and South America and the Middle East.” A Navy spokesperson said that didn't find a Wayne Simmons that ever served in that branch of the Navy.

A FOX news spokesperson said that Simmons was never paid for his appearances. FOX news didn't confirm how they verified Simmon's identity. However, he supposedly had a couple of interviews with the Washington Post, and he was a keynote speaker at a GOP fundraising dinner.

Due to his perpetuating stance on his CIA experience, Simmons was able to get a job from a government contractor that required security clearance. He also scammed a person out of $125,000 convincing them to make a real estate investment with him.

Comments from Allen: 
"If you're the CIA, you disavow all knowledge of anyone claiming to be a secret agent working for the CIA; it's what you do. If you're GEICO....."

As sarcastic as this sounds, this is precisely how certain scammers get away with fraudulent schemes. They create an untraceable identity, or a story which discourages others from checking into their background, and then use that fake identity for their own private purposes.

I personally obtained fraud judgments against two people, Todd Ostrovsky and Amy Ostrovsky, who scammed my clients out of money. In a very comical gesture, on the first day of trial, their attorney held in his hand two "Witness Protection Program Identity Cards," and demanded that I be prohibited from attempting to locate the actual residence of the defendants because it would compromise their participation in the federal Witness Protection Program. (there is no such thing as a "Federal Witness Protection Program" identity card; if you are actually in the program, disclosing your association with the program gets you immediately booted out of it.) These people had a habit of moving to a new location to avoid debtors, and telling their new landlord and neighbors they were in the Witness Protection Program so they would not do background checks. They did not want me to know their new address because they did not want me to be able to execute on a judgment against them.

Mr. Simmons got away with it for so long because he appeared to have a depth of knowledge about how secret CIA operations worked, beyond that of most laymen.

The question is whether this is a "stolen valor" situation with Mr. Simmons which escalated into something more, or whether the whole fake identity was an attempt to scam people from the start. Some people just crave the glory earned by heroes who have put their lives on the line for a noble cause. Mr. Simmons could not be prosecuted for claiming to be a military hero because he claimed to be a civilian working special ops with the Navy for the CIA, so he would have to have used his fake identity to cheat others out of money (fraud) or to get hired for security-clearance-required federal jobs to be prosecuted for a crime.

He is accused now of wire fraud (the defendant intentionally participated in a scheme to defraud another out of money; (2) with the intent to defraud; it was reasonably foreseeable that interstate wire communications would be used; and they were used)), major fraud against the United States (knowingly executing a scheme against the United States with the intent to defraud the United States, or obtain money or property

The bottom line here is that it is generally no crime to lie about who you are, unless you use that fake identity to get some financial benefit to which you are not otherwise entitled.

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Allen Browning is an attorney in Idaho Falls, Idaho who handles personal injury and criminal defense. He has over 30 years of experience and handled thousands of cases. Allen handles cases from all over Idaho. Call (208) 542-2700 to set up a free consultation if you are facing legal trouble or you have been involved in an accident.

Also, check out browninglaw.net for more information about Allen and Browning Law.

Allen Browning can help with all personal injury claims including motor vehicle accidents,truck accidents, auto accidents, serious and disabling accidents, and wrongful death claims.

Allen Browning is an Idaho Falls attorney who can also help with drunk driving (DUI), traffic violations, Felony, Misdemeanor, Domestic Violence, Drug Crimes, Theft, Juvenile Crimes, battery and assault charges, Violent Crimes, and Probation/Parole Violations. He is one of the most experienced and successful criminal defense attorneys in Idaho.
Allen is able to provide his services if the incident occurs in the following Idaho Areas: American Falls, Arco, Blackfoot, Boise, Burley, Driggs, Idaho Falls, Malad City, Pocatello, Rexburg, Rigby, Salmon, St. Anthony, Twin Falls, Bannock County, Bingham County, Bonneville County, Butte County, Cassia County, Clark County, Fremont County, Jefferson County, Lemhi County, Madison County, Oneida County, Power County, Teton County, and Twin Falls County.    
Sources for more information:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/he-claimed-to-be-ex-cia-and-was-quoted-as-an-expert-on-fox-news-prosecutors-say-it-was-a-lie/2015/10/15/eb1b7818-7345-11e5-9cbb-790369643cf9_story.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/neil-cavuto-wayne-simmons_56229bf7e4b02f6a900c9879

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