N.J. veterans official faked record, officials say

An official of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs fabricated his colorful past as a decorated Vietnam War veteran and used faked war wounds to collect disability benefits, authorities have said.

William Devereaux, 63, also falsified his tax records so he could get exemptions and benefits, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Devereaux, of Laurel Springs, was arrested Monday on charges of falsifying or tampering with records and theft by failure to make required disposition. He owes more than $40,000 in taxes to Laurel Springs for 2002 through this year, authorities said.

Devereaux acknowledged yesterday that he recently had tax problems but said that he and his attorney had straightened them out and that he was paying back what was owed.

Devereaux vehemently denied lying about his military record and said he was disabled from injuries suffered in Vietnam.

"This investigation is flawed, at best," he said.

According to Jason Laughlin, a spokesman for the Camden County prosecutor, Devereaux has lied about his record of service for most of his career.

Devereaux worked for the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs for some time, then was appointed director of veterans programs for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs by then-Gov. Jim McGreevey.

As director of veterans programs, Devereaux has been tasked with helping soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and connecting them with counseling or other services. His job status was unclear late yesterday.

Devereaux claimed on federal military-benefits forms that he had been injured several times when he was a paratrooper and artilleryman in Vietnam. Devereaux also said he had received a Purple Heart, a Soldier's Medal and the Bronze Star.

But authorities said Devereaux served as a payroll-distribution specialist in Vietnam for four months in 1968. According to the prosecutor's office, Devereaux never received the accolades he claimed and there is no record of his being injured.

Devereaux falsified his tax records to file claims for disability benefits, authorities said, and he got $34,000 in compensation from the state.

Investigators also said Devereaux claimed he was disabled so he could qualify for a property-tax exemption in Laurel Springs.

Devereaux has a criminal record that predates this week's charges. In 1996, he was charged with drug distribution. He served about three months in the Camden County jail.

Devereaux is listed as a speaker for the state speakers' bureau, meaning he was available to speak at schools and events about his experiences. On his biography on the bureau Web site, Devereaux wrote, "Served during some of the bloodiest battles during Vietnam. Proud of my service. Have deep feelings concerning our involvement."

Devereaux was quoted in a 2006 Inquirer article about post-traumatic stress disorder in Iraq war combat veterans.

"A smell will set you off, a certain song, shadows on a dark night," said Devereaux, who was described in the story as "a Vietnam veteran who was wounded twice."

In the story, Devereaux added, "You don't get rid of it. You just learn to live with it."