Soldier busts fake veteran for claiming Black Friday discounts

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Thursday, December 4, 2014
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Former infantryman Ryan Berk, left, claims the uniformed army ranger Sean Yetman, right, is a fake.

PHILADELPHIA -- It's a crime known as "stolen valor," civilians dressing up as military veterans.

"Where is your combat patch at? Why is your flag so low on your shoulder? It should be up here," asked former infantryman and Purple Heart recipient Ryan Berk.

"You got me on that one, bud," answered Sean Yetman of Philadelphia, who claims he is an Army ranger.

"Where did you get your CIBs at?" asked Berk, refering to the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), which is a United States Army military award.

"Afghanistan," said Yetman.

"Three?" asked Berk.

"All three," said Yetman.

"You know you need to be in three different campaigns to get three CIBs right?" remarked Berk.

Berk says Yetman is a phony, who he suspects was using the uniform to get discounts while shopping on Black Friday at a mall outside Philadelphia.

"Where'd you go to basic training?" asked Berk.

"Fort Jackson," responded Yetman.

"You know the infantry only goes to Fort Benning, right?" responded Berk.

The video Berk shot has gone viral, viewed over 2.5 million times since Friday.

This isn't the first time Yetman has been accused of impersonating someone he may not be. He plead guilty to impersonating a police officer in 2003.

These soldier impersonation cases are becoming so common, real veterans pushed for an act called the Stolen Valor Law, which punishes men like Angel Ocasio, who was caught on camera by our ABC affiliate in Tampa wearing a chest full of medals he never won.

Yetman could face more than embarrassment. Pennsylvania Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick is calling for him to possibly face federal charges.

But Yetman inists he is the real deal. "If I was a phony, I wouldn't be wearing this uniform," says Yetman.

Berk says, "It's frustrating because you serve with good men who have either lost their lives or been seriously wounded who earned that uniform."