Former Marine Sentenced to 54 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Nearly $41,000 in Restitution for Running Elaborate Fraud Scheme to Obtain Financial Help to Play on PGA Tour
Defendant Concocted Convincing Story That He was a Wounded Combat Veteran

DALLAS—Michael Duye Campbell, 30, was sentenced this afternoon by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis to 54 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $40,993 in restitution for running a fraudulent scheme to obtain financial assistance so that he could play professional golf, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña.

Campbell pleaded guilty in March 2013 to one count of mail fraud. According to documents filed in the case, Campbell served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2000 to 2004; he never deployed overseas and was never injured, severely or otherwise, in combat. Nonetheless, he began representing himself as a marine combat veteran who had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As part of his elaborate scheme, Campbell falsely told others that while on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq, his unit was attacked when an improvised explosive device (IED), or bomb, detonated. He told others that members of his unit died in the explosion and that he awoke from his serious injuries months later at Walter Reed Army Hospital. He claimed that he could not speak and that when he did regain his speech, he stuttered. He also claimed that he suffered short-term memory loss from his TBI.

Campbell told numerous individuals that his doctor suggested that he take up golf to help with his rehabilitation for his combat injuries. Campbell also created a website and obtained a promotional video recording to further his scheme—all to obtain financial help to play in the PGA.

Campbell was convincing in his story. He met famous people who supported charity golf tournaments for wounded warriors and convinced them to write stories on his behalf and provide him access to expensive golf schools and golf courses. All this provided Campbell with opportunities to continue his scheme, defraud others, and afford him opportunities to search out endorsement contracts for golf apparel and equipment.

In fact, it was during this process that Campbell learned of the Troops First Foundation and Operation Proper Exit. These charities provide opportunities for severely injured service members to return to the location where they sustained their injury and, instead of being medically evacuated, provide them the opportunity to walk to the aircraft and climb the ramp. Campbell participated in Operation Proper Exit VIII, co-sponsored by the USO, in December 2010. He was flown from DFW to Dubai and then provided military transportation for the remainder of the trip. Even though Campbell was neither a combat veteran nor a wounded warrior, he made the trip, which cost thousands of dollars.

Campbell deceived other charities, including Operation Homefront and Counter Valor, by making continued material false statements in furtherance of his scheme to defraud. He obtained many things of value from them, including automobile payments, automobile insurance payments, utilities, room and board, transportation, living expenses, and golf tournament entry fees. Likewise, Campbell deceived Vola LLC (an athletic apparel and footwear company located in Richardson, Texas) and Golf Technology Xtreme Inc. (GTX) (a manufacturer of golf clubs), by obtaining, and attempting to obtain golf clothing, equipment, money, and other things of value from them.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham.