Man Allegedly Fakes Military Service to Get Credit Union Loans

A 40-year-old man, who allegedly lied about his military service to obtain nearly a $100,000 in car loans and a credit card, pleaded not guilty last week to making false statements to three Florida credit unions

Richard E. Bowe of Riverview, Fla., was charged with four counts of making false statements to the Tampa-based $493 million Florida Central Credit Union, the $659 million USF Federal Credit Union and the $293 million Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union, according to the federal indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Tampa.

Between January and March 2015, Bowe allegedly applied for two car loans from USF Federal Credit Union and one car loan at Florida Central Credit Union. He also allegedly applied for membership and a credit card account with a $5,000 limit at Tampa Bay FCU, according to the indictment.

For every loan application, Bowe allegedly said that he was employed by the United States Army Contracting Command as a deputy inspector general, federal prosecutors said. He also allegedly claimed that he was earning a salary of more than $14,000 a month, and allegedly provided phony information about his military services and veterans’ benefits.

Federal prosecutors allege Bowe knew all of this information was false.

If convicted, Bowe faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count.