Man Arrested in Paducah Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Impersonating a United States Army Chief Warrant Officer and Fraud
Used the Disguise to Defraud Another of Sums of Money

PADUCAH, KY—A convicted felon living in McCracken County, Kentucky, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court, by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell to 16 months in prison, followed by a one year term of supervised release, for impersonating an officer of the U.S. Army and defrauding a victim of sums of money, announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. Senior Judge Russell also ordered defendant Kyle Christopher Barwan to pay restitution in the amount of $1,640.

Barwan, age 23, was charged in a two-count indictment by a grand jury meeting in Paducah, Kentucky, on September 11, 2012. According to the indictment, on or about April 14, 2012, in Christian County, Kentucky, the defendant falsely assumed and pretended to be an officer and employee of the United States, that is, a United States Army chief warrant officer, and in such pretended character, falsely stated that he was a United States Army chief warrant officer and conducted a military promotion ceremony for military personnel. Further, between April 1, 2012 and May 7, 2012, in McCracken County, Kentucky, the defendant falsely pretended to be an officer and employee of the United States, that is, a United States Army Cchief warrant officer and in such pretended character, with intent to defraud, did falsely demand and obtain a thing of value from another person in that he obtained sums of money over $1,000. According to court records, Barwan asked at least one individual for money while impersonating an officer of the U.S. Army. Barwan pleaded guilty to both charges on December 12, 2012, before Senior Judge Russell.

Barwan was previously arrested in Vincennes, Indiana, in November 2010 and was charged with impersonating an officer and possession of cocaine. He was convicted of both offenses and sentenced in June 2011 to one year imprisonment for impersonating an officer and 18 months, to run concurrently, for the felony possession of cocaine.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Sparks and Special Assistant United States Attorney Captain John Vrettand and was investigated by Ft. Campbell Military Police, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).