WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Veteran admits faking paralysis to avoid Iraq
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Associated Press - November 6, 2009 3:25 PM ET
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - An Army veteran faces up to 65 years in prison and $1 million in fines after admitting he plotted to bilk the U.S. government and Ford Motor Co. by faking paralysis after a rollover crash.
Jeffrey Rush pleaded guilty today in federal court in East St. Louis to charges of fraud conspiracy, mail fraud and making a false statement to a federal agency. Rush used to live in Glen Carbon but has since moved to Nashville, Tenn.
Authorities say he carried out the scam with his wife to get disability benefits and avoid being deployed to Iraq.
The Rushes claimed he lost the use of his legs after a 2004 crash. That was just before his Army company from Kansas shipped off to Iraq without him.
The couple also tried to defraud through a product-liability lawsuit against Ford.
Amy Rush already pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
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