Amanda Kate Walker Bass, 36, of Fayette County, Tennessee, admitted in court that she invented a wild story about being a Marine who survived an ambush in Afghanistan, came home wounded, disabled, and legally blind, and had served multiple tours. In reality, Bass never spent a single day in uniform.
She used the lies to run a GoFundMe campaign that collected donations, convince charities to provide free labor such as HVAC work and a wheelchair ramp for her home, and trick The Daily Memphian into publishing a July 2021 article titled "Disabled, legally blind veteran now dealer of luxury goods." The scheme ran for years, exploiting the trust Americans have in real veterans.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant called the fraud offensive and illegal, saying it victimizes genuine military heroes and preys on public goodwill toward those who served.
Bass faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud, plus up to one year and a $100,000 fine for the stolen valor charge. U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris will sentence her on May 14, 2026.
The FBI and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation handled the probe, with Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Bateman III prosecuting. Cases like this remind us how stolen valor not only steals money but also dishonors every man and woman who actually put on the uniform and risked their lives for this country.
Bass deserves the maximum penalty the law allows.