Man charged with attempting to defraud Coast Guard assistance program

A 28-year-old Chesapeake, Va. man is being charged with defrauding the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Program of funds after posing as a soldier in need of assistance, according to Anne Arundel County Police.

Sterling Orlando Scott was charged with theft and fraud. Police said Scott pretended to be a "Sgt. Major Reese from the Army Emergency Relief" on Dec. 2, when he called the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Program in Curtis Bay. He said an army member flying to Baltimore needed emergency travel assistance because his wife reportedly had been killed in a car accident.

The Coast Guard Investigative Service contacted Anne Arundel County police, who arrested him Dec. 4 after he had signed for the money he was to receive. The funds are for active military and Scott was discharged from the military in November.

Anne Arundel police allege he had attempted made similar attempts in Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina.