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Veteran accused of defrauding non-profits pleads no contest in Virginia Beach

Posted at 11:13 AM, Sep 15, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-15 17:25:27-04

Virginia Beach, Va. -  A veteran arrested for fraud earlier this year pleaded no contest at a hearing Tuesday morning in Virginia Beach Circuit Court and said he had no comment about the fraud charge.

Brent Henry was arrested in April and charged with Obtaining Money Under False Pretenses after Adam Mayo, the founder of Wags for Warriors, complained that Henry was scamming his non-profit organization.

Wags for Warriors works to train service dogs for veterans with PTSD.

Mayo said Henry told him he was involved in a helicopter crash in 2008 which resulted in his PTSD.

NewsChannel 3 investigated Henry’s military background and found that some of his claims didn’t match up.

Brent Henry

Brent Henry

Records from the Marine Corps show he did serve from 1994 until 2000, but also show a bad conduct discharge. That came from a special court martial in 1998. He was accused of unauthorized absence and was demoted to private.

Records also show Henry was not serving in 2008, which is the year he claims to have been in a helicopter crash resulting in his PTSD.

Since November, leaders with Wags for Warriors said they have been working with Henry, raising money to help him pay for medical expenses and by providing hours of training for Henry’s dog, Geneva.

Tuesday in court we learned more about the money and resources that were taken.
The stipulations of facts was provided to us from the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
It states Wags For Warriors  paid $800 to help Henry with medical treatment for PTSD and paid another $2,400 worth of resources were used to train his service dog that he said he needed for the PTSD.
Records state they paid $450 for a vet bill for the dog.

Mayo said, “I forgive him for what he has done but I won’t trust him again and I won’t allow him around any of my guys in this program.”

Henry was also charged with two counts of fraud in Chesapeake after the non-profit organization Wounded Wear also filed a complaint.

In August, one of those charges was dismissed while Henry pleaded guilty to the other. He was sentenced to a three year suspended sentence and ordered to pay $400 restitution.

Henry will be sentenced in Virginia Beach on January 11, 2016.

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