BREAKING NEWS...WEB EXTRA!!! Stokes Arraigned in US District
Court in Boston Charged with forging
Military Discharge Papers Says
he will not resign from Lawrence School Committee by
Tom Duggan, posted 1/9/08
BOSTON, –
January 9, 2008 – Elected Lawrence School
Committeeman James Stokes was arraigned in Federal Court
in Boston today after being arrested at Top Donut on Winthrop Avenue by
Lawrence Police and Federal Agents.
Lawrence Police took Stokes into custody and processed
him at the Lawrence police station before FBI agents took
him into custody.
During Last
year’s school committee election Stokes had claimed
to be veteran who served in the US Marines in Viet Nam
“and was decorated in combat” and even listed
himself as a veteran on the primary ballot on election
day.
Stokes had claimed to be a Viet Nam Hero during the last
four Lawrence elections where he squared of against City
Councilor Marie Gosselin. Gosselin had claimed in those
previous elections that Stokes was a fraud but because
she had so little credibility in the community most did
not believe her.
US Attorney Michael Sullivan issued a statement earlier
today saying, "Falsely claiming Veteran status
and bogus claims of receiving military awards or medals
is an affront to each and every man and woman who has
served our Country as part of our Armed Services,"
the United States Attorney said. (FULL PRESS RELEASE)
Stokes was
officially charged with a violation of Title 18 (Chapter
25 Section 498) for forging US military discharge papers
and passing forged documents. A US Judge Magistrate set
Stokes free this morning on $10,000 unsecured bond.
Stokes, who purposely did not
attend the official inauguration of elected
officials last Wednesday, walked into the city clerk's
office in city hall on Monday asking to be sworn in. he
city clerk had no choice under the charter but to
administer the oath of office to Stokes as there had been
no legal challenge to his elected office.
According to the affidavit filed by Peter K. King,
Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
(“FBI”), “On January 4, 2008, I
interviewed STOKES at his place of residence in Lawrence,
MA. STOKES (sic) admitted that he was never a United
States Marine and that he had never served in the
military or naval service of the United States. STOKES
was shown the DD-214 form referenced above (and attached
hereto) and he admitted that it was not accurate. He also
admitted that he had signed the phony document and
claimed that he did so after it was created by his now
deceased brother.”(FULL AFFIDAVIT)
Stokes faces up to one year in Federal prison and up
to $100,000 fine if he is found guilty.
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com The January 2008 Edition
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only)
Top Donut on Winthrop Avenue by
Lawrence Police and Federal Agents. 
Stokes, who purposely did not
attend the official inauguration of elected
officials last Wednesday, walked into the city clerk's
office in city hall on Monday asking to be sworn in. he
city clerk had no choice under the charter but to
administer the oath of office to Stokes as there had been
no legal challenge to his elected office. 
