Maui Man Sentenced For Theft From U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs
HONOLULU – United States District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright sentenced Cody Joslin, age 32,
to 18 months in prison today for theft of funds from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (the
“VA”). Joslin pleaded guilty on October 24, 2017, to receiving VA benefits to which he was not
entitled by falsely claiming that he suffered from combat-related injuries and trauma.
According to court documents and information presented in court,
Joslin was in the U.S. Army for
approximately nine months, and never served in a combat zone or overseas.
Nevertheless, Joslin submitted paperwork to the VA claiming that he suffered from Post- Traumatic
Stress Disorder and tinnitus as a result of multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. To
support these claims, he fabricated stories about engaging in active combat, and about witnessing
combat-related deaths of friends, and injuries from rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). Joslin also
submitted fake military certifications purporting to show that he received certain combat awards.
He purchased these certifications online from a veteran who had been previously convicted for
possession and sale of counterfeit U.S. documents. As a result of these false claims, Joslin
received over $48,000 in VA disability benefits to which he was not entitled.