A man from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, has been arrested and charged with falsely claiming to be a United States Army veteran for more than three decades. Authorities allege that James D. Sommers used the identity of an actual Army veteran who served from 1979 to 1982 to obtain benefits and medical care.
Sommers was taken into custody in Pittsfield, where he had been residing at Soldier On, a facility offering transitional housing for military veterans. Officials say he was staying there under the stolen identity of the victim. He is currently being held in federal custody and is scheduled to appear in court on March 9, 2026.
According to charging documents, Sommers began impersonating the Army veteran as early as 1994. It is alleged that he used this false identity to secure thousands of dollars in Social Security payments and almost $30,000 worth of medical care and medication from Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. The most recent incident reportedly occurred on February 20, 2026, when Sommers allegedly sought medical treatment at the VA Medical Center in Northampton using the victim’s name.
Authorities also state that Sommers has several prior convictions in New York State under the same stolen identity. These convictions span from 1994 through 2011 and include offenses such as criminal possession of stolen property, obtaining transportation without payment, sale of a controlled substance, possession of a forged instrument, attempted grand larceny, grand larceny, and forgery.
If convicted on the current charge of making false statements, Sommers faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.” Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Northeast Field Office joined Foley in announcing the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow is prosecuting the case.