Recruits for the United States Army in Pomona, Calif. got a surprise when they discovered their unit was a fraud.
Police arrested Chinese citizen Yupeng Deng, 51, Tuesday for allegedly creating a fake army division that recruited Chinese nationals on the pretense they would gain U.S. citizenship for their service, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Deng is set to be arraigned Wednesday at Pomona Superior Court.
Deng will be arraigned on 13 felony counts. Among the counts are obtaining money, labor or property under false pretenses and deceptive document crime.
The “U.S. Army/Military Special Forces Reserve Unit” was created in 2008, allegedly by Deng. Recruited members were supplied with fraudulent U.S. army uniforms, false documents and fake military ID cards.
“Supreme Commander” Deng allegedly required the recruits to pay fees ranging from $300 to $450 for initiation and an annual renewal of $120.
A cash donation to Deng would increase the rank of recruits, according to the Deputy District Attorney.
Recruits even marched in a Monterey Park parade and toured the USS Midway Museum while in “uniform.”
Deng is an El Monte resident with an office in Temple City.
