Feds: Lutz man lied about military honors

Angel Ocasio-Reyes would appear in public showing off a stunning array of medals: the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Navy Cross and at least 15 others, court records show.

Federal prosecutors say Ocasio-Reyes basked in honor that wasn't his. Under the Stolen Valor Act, the 48-year-old Lutz man has been charged with wearing medals and ribbons authorities say he didn't earn.

Ocasio-Reyes faces federal misdemeanor charges of wearing or displaying the medals, lying about how he received them and using a counterfeit certificate of discharge from the U.S. Navy, records show.

His first appearance hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Jan. 20 before U.S. Magistrate Mark A. Pizzo. The charges carry up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine on each count.

The U.S. Attorney's Office has not released details of how Ocasio-Reyes allegedly obtained the medals.

Ocasio-Reyes, who has not been arrested, could not be reached for comment today.

He also is accused of wearing military decorations denoting service in the war on terrorism, tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the liberation of Kuwait, and commendation medals from the Marine Corps, records show.

Roger Golden, commandant of the Marine Corps League in New Port Richey, said Ocasio-Reyes tried to join his detachment and would come in showing the ribbons and medals.

The Navy Cross pinned to his chest made Ocasio-Reyes appear legitimate, Golden said.

"We welcomed him like a brother," he said. "We were ready to get him in. He had all the paperwork."

But Golden said he became suspicious when another veterans organization said Ocasio-Reyes didn't have military identification to get into the group's headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base.

Ocasio-Reyes was denied membership.

"It made me mad as hell. We earned that eagle, globe and anchor," Golden said, referring to the Marine Corps emblem. "It's a slap in the face of the guys in the Marine Corps."

Local Army-Navy surplus stores typically carry military decorations for veterans who want to replace lost or stolen medals, said Awilda Pressley, manager of the Army Navy Surplus Market on Tampa Street.

But people just can't stroll in and buy them. Customers must show they served in the military and provide documentation proving they were awarded the medals they are seeking to replace, Pressley said.

Ocasio-Reyes is the fourth person this year to be charged with falsely wearing medals in the Middle District of Florida, which includes Tampa.