Charles Kaczmarczyk
The Knoxville couple charged with faking military service and using it to steal from the government will stay in jail until the trial in September.
Charles and Martha Ann Kaczmarczyk briefly appeared in court Wednesday afternoon and waived their right to a detention hearing.
A federal grand jury indicted the Kaczmarczyks on eight counts including three counts of stealing public money from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and three counts of Social Security fraud for more than $1,000.
The indictment states that while Charles Kaczmarcyzk was in the Air Force, he falsely claimed he fought in two Special Operations Missions in Vietnam, received two silver stars, two purple hearts and suffered PTSD.
While it's up to a jury to decide if he these things are true, the accusations do not sit well with local veterans.
"In plain words, it makes you sick at your stomach," said WWII Veteran Gerald Clark.
Clark earned a purple heart during his service.
"This is about the top medal we received," said Clark.
For Clark, it is more than a medal. It symbolizes the 87-year-old's loss of his leg.
When he learned Kaczmarczyks are accused of faking the medals, he took it personally. Both the President of the East Tennessee Military Affairs Council, John Dyess, and the Director of Veterans Affairs for Blount County, Nathan Weinbaum, echoed his feelings.
"It's disgusting.. it's despicable.... I think it's a disgrace to this nation," said Dyess.
"It's unfortunate because in my office I see many veterans with Purple Hearts and even Silver Stars. They are legitimate. It wasn't an easy thing to get through to get those medals," said Weinbaum.
Kaczmarczyk claimed he was disabled in two specific Special Operations combat missions around the Vietnam War including the Iranian hostage rescue mission and S.S. Myaguez rescue mission.
The prosecutors say he used his military service to his benefit for six years.
During that time, a UT student publication wrote he spoke to a group of students and and held a "captivated audience" at Hodges Library while he told his story.
He also joined veterans groups. Two that Clark is involved in.
"I thought he was a credible disabled veteran in every way," said Clark. They first met in the American Legion and then in the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
The National Military Order of the Purple Heart removed Kaczmarczyk from their group.
If convicted, the Kaczmarczyks could face 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
Their trial is set for September 26th.