Man Who Pretended to Be a War Hero To Teach in Monterey Sentence - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Man Who Pretended to Be a War Hero To Teach in Monterey Sentenced

BALTIMORE, Maryland- Bill Hillar was sentenced to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his scheme to lie about his military experience and academic credentials in order teach at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

Hillar was also ordered to pay restitution of $171,415 and perform 500 community hours at the Maryland State Veterans Cemeteries.

"Hillar claimed that he had earned praise as a hero, but the truth is that he deserves condemnation as a liar," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.  "He did not serve in the U.S. Army, did not receive military training in counter-terrorism and psychological warfare, and did not lose his daughter to sex traffickers."

According to Hillar's plea agreement, from around 1998 to 2010, private and public sector organizations paid Hillar at least $171,415 for teaching, leading workshops, giving speeches and conducting training on counter terrorism, drugs trafficking, human trafficking and related topics.  Hillar conducted these activities through a business named "Bill Hillar Training." According to the government's sentencing memorandum, most of Hillar's victims were military, law enforcement or first responder organizations.