The self-described "Supreme Commander" of a phony Army unit received a three-year prison sentence for bilking hundreds of immigrants out of money by telling them that joining the unit would be a path to citizenship.
Yupeng Deng, of El Monte, pleaded guilty to one count each of theft, manufacturing deceptive government documents and counterfeiting an official government seal.
Prosecutors said the 51-year-old Chinsese national "recruited" about 200 other Chinese immigrants from the LA area, Northern California and Atlanta to join the fake Army reserve unit. Members paid about $400 apiece to join the fictional unit.
"No legitimate Army recruiter will ever ask an applicant for money in order to serve in the military," said Capt. Patrick Caukin, commander of the U.S. Army recruiting center in El Monte.
They also paid an annual renewal fee of $120.
"Yupeng Deng made a history of lying about himself,'' said Deputy District Attorney Lalit Kundani. "He called himself the 'supreme commander' when, in reality, he was the 'supreme con artist.' He wanted to wear the king's robe, ride on the king's horse and wear the king's crown, but he didn't have the courage to walk a day in the king's shoes.''
The recruits were provided with phony U.S. Army uniforms, fake documents and fraudulent military ID cards and directed to report to Deng's Temple City office for military training and indoctrination, the prosecutor alleged. The office was made to look like a military recruiting center, complete with a circular emblem on the floor in front of the front desk.
The recruits marched in a parade in Monterey Park and took a tour of the USS Midway museum in San Diego while dressed in uniform, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Authorities said the scam fell apart when members were stopped for traffic violations. The members, some wearing their uniforms, produced what they believed to be legitimate military documents. Investigators determined the IDs were fake.
Deng separately pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. That charge was filed in connection with a search warrant served at Deng's home.
