Navy SEAL Impersonator Arrested

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ A Tampa Bay area man was arrested after authorities say he pretended to be a former Navy SEAL.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies responded to a Tampa Wawa convenience store Wednesday following reports that a man in a Navy uniform was aggressively soliciting money for a veterans’ organization.

Deputies say 54-year-old Freemane Javon Brown, dressed in a commander’s uniform, initially told them he was a former member of SEAL Team Six, but he later admitted he never was a Navy officer. Brown told deputies he had purchased his uniform and medals at a local Army/Navy surplus store. He voluntarily surrendered all of the insignias at the scene.

Brown was arrested and charged with unlawful use of a military uniform. He was later released on $2,000 bail.

Jail records didn’t list an attorney.