NJ man admits lying about military record to get deck, gifts

MINE HILL — A township man has admitted lying about his military record to get gifts, including a nearly $32,000 deck.

Robert Guidi, 67, pleaded guilty on Monday to theft by deception and violating the state's Stolen Valor Act. In his plea Giudi admitted he deceived the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation and the Morris County Veterans Service Office.

Guidi served in a clerical position as an Army private during the Vietnam War. But he falsely claimed that he was wounded and had been a prisoner of war.

He concocted an intricate story of bravery — including receiving the Purple Heart — that allowed him to receive a deck. Guidi received $3,000 from someone by pretending to be a Purple Heart recipient who needed medical aid.

As part of the story Giudi created he also lied about his service as a Green Beret and trained sniper, prosecutors said, as well as his completion of military airborne school and training at Quantico and Langley, which train FBI and CIA agents.

The Daily Record of Parsippany reports prosecutors will recommend Guidi be sentenced to three years in prison and make restitution when he's sentenced in May. Defense lawyer Neill Hamilton wants Guidi to be sentenced to the county's drug court program.

He has already returned a hunting bow that he was given in honor of his bogus military record.

Guidi was indicted a decade ago on charges of swindling three homeowners in Denville out of nearly $64,000 in home improvements and landscaping projects that were never completed. He pleaded guilty to theft, though the exact sentence he received wasn't immediately available.

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