Man Sentenced for Fake Military Claims

PHOTO CAPTION: William Steven Wooten, 46, of Lexington, South Carolina, was sentenced to 109 months in federal prison after falsely claiming to be a Purple Heart combat veteran and being convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors said Wooten had never served in the military and used fraudulent discharge paperwork to gain the trust of a mother with young children. (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division photo via FOX Carolina.)

A South Carolina man who falsely claimed to be a decorated combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient to gain the trust of a single mother has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison after an investigation into his fraudulent military credentials uncovered child sexual abuse material.

William Steven Wooten, 46, of Lexington, South Carolina, had never served in the United States military, according to federal prosecutors.

Despite having no military service, Wooten possessed a fraudulent DD-214 discharge document that he used in an effort to obtain employment and convince a mother that he was a respectable person who could be trusted around her young children.

The FBI's investigation into those false military claims ultimately led agents to discover 203 images depicting child sexual abuse on his phone.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced his federal sentence on November 6.

A Fake Purple Heart and a Forged Military Record

According to federal prosecutors, Wooten portrayed himself as a combat veteran who had earned a Purple Heart, one of the nation's oldest military decorations and an award reserved for service members wounded or killed under qualifying circumstances involving enemy action.

His claims were entirely fabricated.

Investigators determined that Wooten had never served in the military and possessed a fraudulent Form DD-214, the official document used to record a service member's separation from military service.

A legitimate DD-214 contains information about an individual's service history, including dates of service, military occupational specialties, decorations and discharge status.

For veterans, the document is essential for proving military service and establishing eligibility for certain benefits and employment opportunities.

Wooten used the fraudulent document in an attempt to secure employment, prosecutors said.

But investigators identified another purpose that made the deception particularly troubling.

According to the Justice Department, Wooten also used the fake military credentials to persuade a single mother that he was trustworthy around her children.

Federal authorities have not publicly identified the mother or her children in the sentencing announcement, and the government has not disclosed the full circumstances of their relationship.

FBI Investigation Uncovered 203 Images

The FBI began investigating Wooten over his possession and use of the fraudulent military discharge document.

During that investigation, agents obtained a search warrant for his phone.

What investigators discovered extended well beyond the original stolen valor allegations.

FBI forensic examiners recovered 203 images depicting child sexual abuse.

Investigators also identified search terms indicating that Wooten had been looking for images involving young girls, including material depicting abuse by adult men.

The discovery led to federal prosecution for possession of child sexual abuse material.

The Justice Department also revealed that Wooten had previously been convicted in state court of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

That state conviction occurred approximately eight months before the FBI discovered the fraudulent discharge document and the illegal images.

The federal sentencing announcement did not provide additional details about the victim or circumstances of the earlier state conviction.

Convicted in February, Sentenced to More Than Nine Years

Wooten's federal case proceeded through two separate criminal matters involving his fabricated military credentials and the child sexual abuse material.

Approximately two weeks before his federal trial in February 2026, he pleaded guilty to possessing the fraudulent DD-214.

On February 19, the Justice Department announced that a federal jury had convicted him of one count of possession of child sexual abuse material following a two-day trial.

His prison sentence was announced on November 6.

U.S. District Judge Donald Coggins Jr. sentenced Wooten to 109 months in federal prison, equivalent to nine years and one month.

The judge also ordered 20 years of court-supervised release after his imprisonment.

There is no parole in the federal prison system.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Columbia Field Office and the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.

Prosecutors Say He Exploited the Reputation of Veterans

Federal prosecutors emphasized that Wooten's conduct was not simply a case of someone falsely claiming a military decoration.

They said he used the public's respect for service members to make himself appear trustworthy while seeking access to young children.

U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling said Wooten had exploited the respect society holds for veterans for his personal benefit.

Stirling also highlighted the danger created when someone uses a fabricated military background to gain access to children.

FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla emphasized the agency's commitment to investigating child exploitation and protecting victims.

The case illustrates how fabricated military credentials can be used for purposes beyond the financial or reputational benefits commonly associated with stolen valor cases.

In this instance, prosecutors connected the false combat veteran identity to an attempt to gain a mother's confidence.

The Purple Heart claim was especially significant because the decoration represents wounds or deaths suffered in qualifying military service, making it a powerful symbol of sacrifice.

A Stolen Valor Investigation That Exposed More Serious Crimes

Wooten's prosecution became part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The program coordinates federal, state and local law enforcement efforts to identify offenders, prosecute child exploitation crimes and protect victims.

The investigation began with a fraudulent military discharge document and false claims of combat service.

It ultimately uncovered evidence supporting a federal conviction for possessing child sexual abuse material.

The resulting sentence means Wooten faces more than nine years in federal prison, followed by two decades of supervision.

For the veteran community, the case demonstrates a particularly disturbing misuse of military service and combat decorations.

Wooten did not merely claim recognition he had never earned. According to federal prosecutors, he used that invented military identity to gain trust around vulnerable children.

The FBI investigation into those claims ultimately brought his other criminal conduct to light.

(Source: OAF Nation)