Former officer accused of defrauding 9/11 fund

[unhappycamper]

Former officer accused of defrauding 9/11 fund
By Nedra Pickler - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Mar 10, 2009 20:56:05 EDT

WASHINGTON — A retired Navy commander awarded for his service during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks went on trial Tuesday on charges that he used an old injury to get money from the victims’ compensation fund.

In opening arguments, a federal prosecutor accused Charles Coughlin and his wife, Sabrina, of stealing $331,034 from the fund by filing a false claim saying that the injury was from the terrorist attack.

Attorneys for the Coughlins said the claim was legitimate. They said Charles Coughlin seriously injured his neck when a plane crashed into the Pentagon about 75 feet from his office and pieces of the ceiling hit his head. They said he was hurt again when he went back into the burning building to rescue others and ran into a door jam.

Coughlin was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and Purple Heart for his actions and injuries that day.

Prosecutors contend Coughlin’s symptoms are from a 1998 injury that he suffered while doing home repairs. Justice Department attorney Susan Menzer suggested he wrote his own Purple Heart commendation and it was approved by military leaders busy preparing for war who took him at his word.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_coughlin_trial_031009/%2e