TAMPA, FL -- A Tampa man was arraigned today in federal court on charges he claimed to have been awarded some of the nation's top military honors.
Angel Ocasio left Tampa Federal Court this morning his head down.
"Angel people want to know why. Why did you do this?" we asked. Unlike the last time we saw him, Ocasio wasn't talking today.
The FBI began investigating Ocasio after ABC Action News uncovered he had been frequenting Tampa Area VFW's, American Legion Posts, and Marine Corp League Detachments claiming to be a Marine awarded one of the military's highest honors, the "Navy Cross."
The reality is, the military says, Ocasio was never in the Marine Corps.
Last month, Ocasio was charged with violating the "Stolen Valor Act", which makes it illegal to wear or claim to have won medals of valor.
"This type of behavior, if he's guilty, is outrageous. There are people overseas in harms way earning these medals legitimately and it's an absolute slap in the face to millions of veterans that may have been in harms way. It's an outrage," says Steve Cole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tampa.
Ocasio plead not guilty in court.
His attorney, Adam Tanenbaum, said the real problem isn't what Ocasio did but the fact it was exposed.
"Like the rest of us he has the utmost respect for the men and women in the military and he's disappointed this case is a distraction from reporting on the hard work out men and women are doing overseas," says Tanenbaum.
Ocasio is free on bond and is scheduled to go on trial in March.
