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Big Bear Man Accused Of Claiming To Be A General

Federal prosecutors have charged a Big Bear Lakes man with a felony offense of fraudulently using the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff seal on a business card that he used to falsely claim to be a general in the United States Army Reserves.

Carmine Alexander “Bud” Cannarella, 64, was named in a criminal information filed Wednesday in United States District Court. At the same time, prosecutors filed a plea agreement in which Cannarella agreed to plead guilty to the offense that carries a potential sentence of five years in federal prison.

In the court documents, Cannarella admits using the seal of the Joint Chief of Staff on a business card, which he used to falsely claim that he was a general and a license clinical psychologist.

Cannarella presented the business card and a photo of him in a military uniform to an individual in September 2008. Cannarella, who briefly served in the military in the 1960s as a Private, has claimed to be a military officer for many years.

Cannarella will be summoned to appear in federal court for an arraignment on June 7.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which received substantial assistance from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

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