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The US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, Amanda Kate Walker Bass, 36, of Fayette County, said she was the lone survivor of a 2010 ambush in Afghanistan. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and fraudulent use of military medals, and is due to be sentenced on 14 May 2026.
The office says she never served in the armed forces. A Tennessee woman who claimed to be a wounded US Marine Corps veteran has pleaded guilty to fraud. A GoFundMe page was set up for her benefit, and she shared the story online to gain donations, free labour and other benefits.
What did The Daily Memphian report about Bass in its 2021 article
The office also says that in July 2021 Bass induced The Daily Memphian to publish an article about her. For the wire fraud conviction, she faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. For the conviction for fraudulent use of military medals, she faces up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.
Norris is due to sentence Bass on 14 May 2026, according to the release.
Bass claimed to be a multiple-time deployed US Marine Corps veteran, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The article was headlined “Disabled, legally blind veteran now dealer of luxury goods”, according to the release. Dunavant said that fraudulently claiming military service or medals for unjust personal enrichment victimises military heroes and preys on the trust citizens place in veterans of the US Armed Forces.
The release repeats that Bass never served in the armed forces. US District Judge Mark S. In his words, “It is offensive, and it is illegal. He added that his office looked forward to imposing a real consequence on the defendant. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William C. Bateman III prosecuted it on behalf of the United States.