Three Vermont state soldiers have resigned amid allegations that they played “various roles” in the production of fake Covid-19 vaccination cards, which prompted an FBI investigation, authorities said. know.
Shawn Sommers, Raymond Witkowski and David Pfindel “are suspected of having various roles in the creation of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards, which may violate federal law,” Vermont State Police said in a statement. Dad on Tuesday.
“The details surrounding this incident, which were reported to the supervisor by other service members, were immediately reported to federal law enforcement agencies,” the statement said.
Officials said Sommers and Witkowski resigned on August 10, a day after another state soldier raised concerns about their behavior. Pfindel’s resignation took effect Friday, following an additional investigation by the state’s Department of Public Safety, officials said.
None of the soldiers who resigned could be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday.
Colonel Matthew T. Birmingham, Superintendent of Vermont State Police, said the alleged offense by the veterans does not represent the values and actions of the dedicated men and women in the department. his. He also said he was “embarrassed” by the allegations that had “stained the reputation” of the state police.
“The allegations in this case involve an unusual level of misconduct – a breach of criminal law – and I couldn’t be more upset and disappointed,” Birmingham said in the statement. “If these allegations are proven true, it is deplorable that the state military manipulates immunization cards in the midst of a pandemic, when vaccination is one of the most important steps anyone can take to keep keep their communities safe from COVID-19. “
Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling said in the statement: “Based on our initial internal assessment, we do not believe that the state police could do anything more to prevent this from happening. . As soon as other soldiers became aware of the situation, they made accusations internally and the commanders acted quickly and decisively to hold these individuals accountable and report the matter. this with the federal government. “
Sommers and Witkowski joined the state police in July 2016 and graduated from the academy in January 2017, officials said. Pfindel was hired in January 2014. He became a scout with the Criminal Investigation Department in July 2016, officials said, but returned to the road in April 2020.
A representative for the US attorney’s office in Burlington declined to comment. An FBI official in Albany, New York – which oversees cases in Vermont – could not be immediately reached for comment. Leadership with the Military Association of Vermont did not respond Wednesday.
Fake Covid vaccination cards have attracted the attention of law enforcement across the country. In late August, an Illinois woman was charged with two misdemeanors in Hawaii and charged with using a fake vaccination card to bypass the state’s coronavirus quarantine and quarantine requirements.
The woman, Chloe Mrozak, 24, was arrested at Honolulu airport while trying to board a flight to the US mainland after spending five days in Hawaii.
When state investigators checked Mrozak’s vaccine records, they found her vaccination card contained a typo by vaccine maker Moderna, which was written “Maderna.”
