U.S. Marines, Including Lesbian Couple, Discharged After Faking Marriages

SAN DIEGO -- Three San Diego Marine corporals have been discharged for bad conduct after admitting they faked their marriages to receive housing allowances.

The three pleaded guilty to stealing from the government through fraud at a special court martial, 1st Lt. Maureen Dooley, a Marine spokeswoman, said Monday.

In the scheme, Cpl. Ashley Vice, who is a lesbian, and her girlfriend, civilian Jaime Murphy, pretended to be married to two male Marines, Cpl. Jeremiah Griffin and Cpl. Joseph Garner.

As a result, they got a $1,200 monthly housing stipend meant for married Marines to live off base.

Vice has previously said in media coverage that she and her partner were forced to enter sham marriages because they couldn't afford to live off base without the extra money.

The military doesn't provide allowances for unmarried couples, Vice said.

Despite the repeal of the military's ban against openly gay or lesbian members, same-sex couples, even if married, would not be eligible for benefits because federal law defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

The three Marines were assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Camp Pendleton. In addition to discharge, they face $5,000 in fines. Vice will also serve three months' confinement.

The discharges were first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[lacrosselamore]

11:51 AM on 10/20/2011

This had been going on for years. I knew a half dozen Gay / Lesbian "couples" over the years who got married not for the housing allowance, but to get OSI off their backs. The housing allowance was swcondary.

[coloagnt]

01:36 AM on 10/20/2011

Really cannot muster too much sympathy for these people as what they were doing was fraud. Had they not been so loose-lipped about their fraudulently activities perhaps they might have gotten away with it... loose lips will sink ships.

[Doug Watt]

12:01 PM on 10/20/2011

I was going to agree but then it occurred to me that this may have been the only way for the two women to live together as well as in decent housing. San Diego rental prices are well above what a marine can afford. I agree that it is still fraud, but years ago it was fraud for an African American of light skin tone to pass as white to marry a white person.

The bottom line is that the policy is unfair and will stay this way until DOMA is repealed.

[Liara]

07:36 PM on 10/19/2011

Hm... On one hand, it is fraud, which I do not approve of at all. On the other hand, though, if these two women were allowed to marry and then also receive the same housing allowance and other benefits of opposite-sex married couples, I doubt that this would have happened - at least in this particular case, at any rate. What I want to see is fair treatment for all of the men and women in our armed services, so that situations like these have no need to occur in the first place.

[TXanimal]

04:11 PM on 10/19/2011

On the one hand, if they'd been able to get equal benefits for being married to each other, this wouldn't have happened.

However, fraud isn't the way to go.

[Joe Hennes]

02:37 PM on 10/19/2011

Wow, for the most part calm, well reasoned posts. I think that is the first time I have seen that here at HP, and on a hot button topic. Bravo.

[lnicole3]

12:17 PM on 10/19/2011

"The military doesn't provide allowances for unmarried couples, Vice said."

Yeah, but everyone who is active duty military receives housing compensation, married or single. My significant other (who I am not married to) does okay with the housing pay they receive on top of regular pay. It's as if you're suggesting people have to get married to make it on a military salary. While it might make it a little easier, there is no reason to do so.

[Blake Thomas]

05:32 PM on 10/19/2011

NO THEY DON'T. I was in the Navy 5 years ago and single service members like myself who were under a certain rank received NO HOUSING COMPENSATION. They expect us to live on the smelly dirty ship all the time. As a E3 I was receiving around $18,000 a year with no housing compensation. That is not enough. I could not afford to pay rent so I could live off the smelly dirty ship. Usually 6-7 of us would get together and find a 3 bed apartment somewhere. We all had to share rooms because we couldn't afford to live in town because none of us received any housing compensation. I can't even begin to tell you how many service members on my ship would get married just so they didn't have to live on the ship anymore.

[lacrosselamore]

11:53 AM on 10/20/2011

I know that is true, It is also shameful that we can't pay a living wage OR providee housing assistance for Active Duthy Servicemembers.
Thanks for serving, and for your sacrifices to serve.

[yearite]

11:53 AM on 10/19/2011

if they were "legally married" did they not meet the government requirement?

[truth be told again]

12:23 PM on 10/20/2011

You sure don't know much about the state of same-gender marriage in America.

Even LEGALLY MARRIED same-gender couples still get NOTHING - BUPKES, NADA, Zilch, RIEAN - fro the Federal Government. THAT is why we've been saying it is UN-Constitutional.

Get. A. Clue.

[spidermom]

10:55 AM on 10/19/2011

what constitutes a marriage? Gay military persons have been having Arrainged marriages for years. I don't understand why they admitted to it. Lots of straight married people don't have sex for whatever reason but they are still considered married. Lots of gay couples don't have sex but consider themselves married. So it's the paperwork that makes a marriage in the eyes of the Federal Goverment.

[truth be told again]

12:26 PM on 10/20/2011

Getting legally married "constitutes a marriage". DUH!

And as for your statement: " So it's the paperwork that makes a marriage in the eyes of the Federal Goverment.", this is demonstrably, observably FALSE when it comes to legally married same-gender couples. The (so-called) "Defense" of Marriage Act specifically FORBIDS the Feds from granting ANY of the "effects that flow from marriage" to perfectly legally married same-gender couples.

This (purposeful?) spread of false information is what hinders the equality movement. Stop it.

[Kory Leach]

10:00 AM on 10/19/2011

Now that DADT has been repealed, the military and thus the USA needs to allow for the marriage/ civil union of gay couples. This is coming from a straight REPUBLICAN serviceman. While I have not been a believer in gay marriage (I had no problem with civil union providing all the same benefits.) I can no longer keep that belief now that gays can serve openly and I support the repeal of the DOMA to do what is right, allow them to marry and have dependents covered under Tricare (military health care).

So for the record conservatives can look at past lines of thought and change their minds. What is fair for one person should be fair for all after all. I have always been a supporter of allowing gays to serve openly by the way. Oh, and I'm from "Fly over country" so we're not all rednecks out here. :o)

[Graydonpow]

11:34 AM on 10/19/2011

Thank you, Mr. Leach, for both your service to our nation as well as your hip, insightful thoughts. It is heartwarming to see a self-avowed conservative stand up for what is right, contrary to the extremism that is portrayed in the media. I applaud you for your progressive views on this matter! I would gladly stop in your "flyover state" just to shake your hand and take you out for lunch! Thank you once again for standing up for what is right, Mr. Leach! It warms my heart to know that there are people like you out there supporting my rights and fighting for them! :-)

[Kory Leach]

10:47 AM on 10/20/2011

You are most certainly welcome. Just so you know most, not all unfortunately, of my friends are also conservatives and they feel the same way as I do on these matters. I live in North Dakota and while I don't expect the lunch please be aware that you are welcome to swing through our state anytime, although unless you enjoy extremely cold weather I recommend skipping November through March.

[truth be told again]

12:29 PM on 10/20/2011

I was going to 'Fave' you until I read the words "civil union". They are demonstrably, observably, purposefully separate ADN UN-equal. Marriage works just fine, thanks.

Your statement, "(I had no problem with civil union providing all the same benefits.)" is disingenuous at best - because they do NOT provide all the same benefits. At least 1,176 Federal benefits alone, nevermind the appication of the Full Faith & Credit Clause and the Equal Protections Clause of the US Constitution.

But you knew that. Didn't you?

[Kory Leach]

01:30 PM on 10/20/2011

Yes, I know that the two are different. But that is also why I put it in PAST tense. My opinion has changed. As I stated my thought process has altered over the years. In the post I wanted to be 100% honest in how my viewpoint has been. The reason I placed civil union there was because it SHOULD have all the same legal benefits, not because it does. But as stated it was meant to be a commentary on how my outlook has evolved over time.

I'm genuinely apologetic if my past viewpoints offended people. But that is where forgiveness comes into play. Be well!

[Atwill]

08:08 AM on 10/19/2011

though i dont like what they did, they could have easily just REALLY married the person and then just faked the love part. i do see how this will help show the USA that DOMA needs to go and that gay military people need all benefits.

[truth be told again]

12:31 PM on 10/20/2011

ALL people, not just the military, need and deserve equal benefits.

[Atwill]

08:14 PM on 10/20/2011

I agree 100%

[fanoflmp]

03:50 AM on 10/19/2011

"The military doesn't provide allowances for unmarried couples, Vice said." I think this is very clear no allowances for any unmarried couples. This has nothing to do with the fact that they are gay. There are a lot of couples, gay and straight, who are just in long term relationships and don't even want to get married.

They plead guilty to stealing from the government through fraud. "Because they couldn't afford to live off base without the extra money." There are thousands of families that can't afford much right now but that doesn't make it right to steal from the government, which is taxpayer money. They should be held accountable.

[Kory Leach]

09:41 AM on 10/19/2011

I concur with you, what the military does provide for unmarried couples is barracks. They have a place to live shower and eat at no cost to them. I have been an active duty single serviceman so it's first hand knowledge.

[Anya Khan]

12:42 AM on 10/19/2011

They were crooks and got what they deserved. IMHO stupid stunts like this should be punished.

[jakeriley]

10:25 PM on 10/18/2011

I am a gay veteran, and it bothers me that these women are using LGBT discrimination as an excuse to break the law. Yes, we need to get rid of DOMA and allow same-sex spousal benefits, but since we're already accused of "desanctifying" marriage, entering into fake marriages isn't really helping the cause there, ladies.

[free nel]

08:18 PM on 10/18/2011

Mhh.. this is a hard one. .. I mean firstly they shouldn't have to be reduced to this level but also it was wrong.. but who am I to judge.. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for them..My heart goes out to them.

[duckpuddle]

04:30 PM on 10/18/2011

This is the kind of stunt that doesn't work. I'm not so supportive of the confinement part, but do agree with the harsh absolute punishment.

Rules are rules. You have to work towards change things you think are unjust. If you ignore them or intentionally break them you need to accept the ramifications.