Question: Should He Forfeit His Property Even if a Jury Didn't Convict Him? The U.S. military granted Navy commander Charles E. Coughlin a Purple Heart and the government awarded him $331,000 for neck and other injuries he claimed to have suffered when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Now government lawyers have concluded that Coughlin lied about his injuries-and they are seeking to seize his $1 million house in Severna Park, his Mercedes-Benz, and his minivan. The U.S. attorney's office has filed a civil suit alleging that the now-retired commander falsely claimed he suffered "a partial permanent disability" after falling debris struck him on the head at the Pentagon, where 184 people were killed.
Instructions: 1. Go to the website www.cengage.com/criminaljustice/samaha.
2. Read the selections from the legal and public press sources regarding the alleged scam and the legal actions taken.
3. Based on the readings, did Commander Coughlin commit the crime of false pretenses? Write a one-page essay backing up your conclusion.
4. Which is the most freffective public policyom the ethics standpoint?
(a) Criminal prosecution?
(b) Civil action for damages to the victims?
(c) Seizure of Commander Coughlin's property? Write a one-page essay backing up your answer with points made in the readings.