Glenwood: Alleged fake vet faces more charges

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The Denver District Attorney’s Office is charging with three new felonies a man accused of pretending to be a war veteran for 24 years.

Mark Mulcahy, 47, who allegedly pretended to be David Anderson, was advised of the new charges Monday: theft, criminal impersonation and forgery. The warrant for those charges says the Denver District Attorney’s Office was notified about the case April 15 by the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Glenwood Springs.

The office charged Mulcahy on March 19 with seven felonies after a Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General investigation determined Mulcahy allegedly received $6,296 in upper gastric hernia surgery at no cost to him by pretending to be a veteran. Mulcahy was arrested Feb. 28.

The real David Anderson, a U.S. Army veteran, lived in California and died in a bicycle accident in 2006, according to an arrest affidavit. Mulcahy, who never served in the military, allegedly told people he was an ex-Marine.

Authorities said Mulcahy somehow obtained a “DD-214” form in Anderson’s name. The form is issued upon separation from military service.

After being contacted by the VA investigator, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said it determined Mulcahy provided false information and forged documents when he was booked into the jail or talking to authorities between 2005 and 2007. Deputies believe he pretended to be Anderson each time, forging the name on jail booking seats and even providing a VA beneficiary card with Anderson’s name on it.

The affidavit says Mulcahy became commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post and served under Anderson’s name through May 2005.