FBI is looking into vet's story to see if he illegally profited from his work with the Colorado Veterans Alliance.

Note from Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org ... A previous story about this phony is here and be sure to use our search engine to learn more about Stolen Valor.

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FBI investigating 'fake' veteran for fraud

by: Chris Vanderveen

DENVER - Rick Duncan looked the part, talked the part, and played the part so well that almost everyone who met him was instantly convinced he was legit.

Duncan simply made people believe they were in the presence of a real-life, wounded Iraq War veteran.

Tuesday, the FBI announced it is looking into Duncan's story in order to see if he (court records show his real name is Rick Strandlof) illegally profited from his work with the Colorado Veterans Alliance.

"We don't have a dollar figure yet," said Denver FBI Special Agent in Charge Jim Davis. "We're hoping the public can give us information on Mr. Strandlof/Duncan."

Under the pseudonym of Rick Duncan, Strandlof founded the Colorado Veterans Alliance in order to lobby for veterans' issues. Last year, he became quite popular with local Democratic politicians as he made a number of campaign appearances and was even featured in a pair of television advertisements.

"He was very good," explained Davis. "[His story] made people feel good, so they were inclined to believe him."

Duncan told people he was wounded during the battle of Fallujah. He told people he served on three separate occasions in Iraq. He was also known as a harsh critic of President Bush's policy in the Middle East.

Only recently did his story start to unravel.

"We want to send a message that we're not going to tolerate this," Davis added.

On Tuesday afternoon after spending a week inside a Denver City Jail cell, Strandlof was transferred to El Paso County. When he was picked up last week in Denver, Strandlof had an outstanding traffic warrant in the Colorado Springs area. His bond was set at $1,000.

Federal prosecutors have yet to charge Strandlof with anything stemming from his role as the head of the Colorado Veterans Alliance, but investigators suspect people may have given him money in order to finance his operation. They are now looking into allegations of fraud. They are also looking into the possibility that Strandlof violated the Stolen Valor Act, which prohibits people from falsely claiming that they were the recipients of military issued medals.

Strandlof has refused all interview requests.

Last week, the members of the Colorado Veterans Alliance voted to disband the organization because, according to CVA spokesperson Dan Warvi, they worried that the name would be forever linked to its founder.

Strandlof's name is also linked to a failed attempt to bring a grand prix race to Reno, Nevada. Newspaper articles from 2006 suggest the Reno-Tahoe Grand Prix Foundation wanted to bring a car race to Nevada by 2009. The effort really never got off the ground, and it remains unclear if Strandlof pocketed any money from the foundation's efforts. The FBI is in contact with officials in Nevada in order to look into that aspect of the case.

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, phony, wannabe, Rick Strandlof, Colorado Veterans Alliance, FBI