During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Army soldier Darryl Lee Wright claimed a rocket exploded near his Humvee during his patrol. He said the blast scattered debris and rubble everywhere and knocked him unconscious. Wright claims the injuries left him with brain damage and post-traumatic stress syndrome. Once home, he claimed to spend most of his time in the fetal position, unable to keep a job or even tie his shoes.
Yes, it’s a sad story to read about a man sacrificing himself for our freedom. Wright became a Purple Heart recipient and received a Combat Action Badge. He was also able to get over $750,000 in federal disability, among other benefits. Since he had the medal that made his claims legitimate, the insurance companies did not question his claims. He, at one point, was raking in around $10,000 each month of taxpayer dollars.
His claims were eventually seen for the elaborate lies they were. Wright submitted a mangled Humvee photo that was completely unrelated to the incident that took place when he was applying for the medals. Not only that, but the rocket hit over three hundred feet from his Humvee. In the reports turned in right after the incident, Wright didn’t mention any injuries. None of the other soldiers were hurt, either.
Because of the “accident,” Wright claimed he needed a yard worker, house cleaner, and full-time caregiver. He hired his sister to be his caregiver, Karen Bevens. Reports showed that she spent forty hours or more a week providing care for Wright and that he could only function with her help.
During all this, Wright coached a high school basketball team while playing on a rec league. He also was part of an emergency response team that helped with fires and rescues near Seattle. He took frequent vacations and was a member at a local country sport club. He became a board member of a hospital foundation, and then ran for a political office. He was caught by investigators mowing his own lawn outside his home.
Come to find out, his sister lied in an affidavit, claiming she was his home caretaker, though she was never there. Wright has submitted fake invoices to the feds to prove he had paid her for her services.
Wright was brought up on charges in 2016 and admitted to his lies. He can face up to twenty years, once sentenced, in a federal prison. His sister also pleaded guilty.
Unfortunately, this kind of case hurts the heroes that truly deserve the honor, respect, and recognition.