(RepublicanPress.org) – Jerry Leon Blankenship, 65, walked away from his life in 1977, and never looked back. Blankenship is a deserter from the US Navy. To evade taking responsibility for his actions, he stole the identity of the father of his then-wife’s child (with her permission) then used his name and Social Security number to start a new life. Recently, all of that came to an end.
A Tennessee man who fled military service and lived under a stolen identity for more than 30 years was sentenced to prison on Monday. His deception was uncovered when he obtained a COVID-19 vaccination at a Newport pharmacy.https://t.co/fmF0BWQ8VU
— WTNH News 8 (@WTNH) March 23, 2022
Blankenship managed to obtain three fraudulent drivers licenses in his home state, Tennessee. His girlfriend, who never knew his true identity, started a business with him in Knoxville. As far as anyone knew, Jerry Blankenship didn’t exist until he decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The real victim, who didn’t receive the vaccine, was notified someone got it using his name.
Blankenship didn’t just use his new name for legal purposes or avoid detection; he became that person. His story could be mistaken for something out of a novel. He even allegedly lied to the mother of his children who he’s been with for 30 years. She is actually the estranged daughter of his first ex-wife. One of his children wrote a touching note to the court pleading for leniency, calling Blankenship a good man who made a huge mistake.
On March 21, a judge sentenced him to 25 months in prison and another 3 years of supervised parole. A release from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) says Blankenship will most likely also face a military tribunal for desertion.
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