St. Louis man admits pretending to be Purple Heart recipient

ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man could face up to a year in prison after admitting he pretended to be a Purple Heart recipient to scam people out of $4,300.

Federal authorities said 46-year-old Mark Chartrand pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor “Stolen Valor” charge. Sentencing is Aug. 22.

Chartrand was on a trip to California when he convinced Airbnb hosts he was a decorated, wounded veteran. They allowed him to stay without paying a delinquent bill and loaned him money for car repairs.

He will be required to pay back the money to the victims.

Chartrand pleaded guilty in 2012 to a charge of impersonating a federal agent. He received five years on probation.