TACOMA, WASHINGTON (BNO NEWS) – A Seattle resident was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for two counts of theft of public monies, access device fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, prosecutors said on Friday.

Joseph W. Watson, 53, stole the identity of a decorated Army Veteran and used it to obtain veteran’s medical benefits, to commit bank fraud, and to execute credit card fraud. In June 2007, Watson perpetrated the identity theft; he was living in Nashville, Tennessee at that moment.

Using the stolen veteran’s identity, Watson obtained treatment at a Veterans Affairs medical facility in Nashville. He also opened bank accounts and defrauded the Bank of America of nearly $20,000. Watson changed the address of the victim’s credit card account to Nashville.

In March 2008, Watson moved to Seattle. He got veterans’ medical benefits from Seattle and American lake locations, totaling $18,000. Finally, in November 2009, he was arrested with a number of false identification documents in the victim’s name and others forged in his name.

Watson claimed to have served 11 years in the Navy and been honorably discharged, when in fact he was dishonorably discharged from the Navy in 1989, for desertion and criminal conduct.