STOLEN VALOR: JOE RIOS

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 (Pub.L. 113–12; H.R. 258) is a United States federal law that was passed by the 113th United States Congress. The law amends the Federal Criminal Code making it a crime for a person to fraudulently claim having received any of a series of particular military decorations with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit from convincing someone that he or she rightfully did receive that award. This law is a revised version of Stolen Valor Act of 2005 that was struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States for violating freedom of speech in the case United States v. Alvarez.

MEET JOSEPH LEWIS "Wolverine" RIOS - PHONY WANNABE SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER

Joe Rios has made the following claims regarding his military service:

1) Served in US Army Special Forces from 1975-1988
2) 18B Weapons Sergeant
3) Special Forces Instructor
4) SERE Instructor
5) Instructor - Fort Sherman Panama
6) Pathfinder Instructor - Panama
7) Combat duty in Nicaragua and El Salvador
8) French Commando Training

Joe Rios claims to have spent 18 months in the hospital recovering from crushed vertebrae after a parachute accident. However, it seems that Joe wasn't even Airborne qualified:

Joe Rios' records indicate:

1) US Army - 15 July 1976 through 14 February 1980 Active Duty
2) MOS 71B and 71L (Clerk Typist)
3) After Basic and AIT Joe was assigned to HHB 2nd BN, 1st ADA in Germany for the entirety of his military service.
4) Awards and Decorations include: Expert Rifle and Pistol Badge

SP/4 JOSEPH LEWIS RIOS, US ARMY JUL 76-FEB 80, MOS: 71L, CLERK TYPIST

Joe Rios has spent many years scamming people into believing he was a former Special Forces soldier. His claims have been publicized and even used to convince a school that he was qualified to build a "Green Beret" confidence/ leadership course, for which he was paid.

Joe Rios is a loser, poser, fraud and liar . . . nothing more.

Perhaps he should follow his own advice . . .

Last known location: Anderson County, SC. Previous address listed is in Tucson, Arizona.

Special Forces soldiers have been discretely engaging Rios via social media. He is not forthcoming and "cannot remember" his team number. None of his answers to our questions make sense. He apparently was paid to work with the Walton Academy in DeFuniak Springs, Florida based on his military claims: this is the basis of our Stolen Valor allegations.

Spending 18 months in the hospital after a parachute malfunction is hard to do when you aren't even Airborne qualified.

International "Silent" Military Missions?

"Divine Intervention"


Joe Rios is a professional scam artist and it is believed that the old lady is well aware of his lies, she is following him around the country. He needs a co-actor to pull off the scam. Con artists often operate in pairs, male & female.

Identity of Joe Rios' girlfriend is withheld although she is clearly identified on Joe Rios' FB page.

Keep in mind this guy is a con-artist; some of the first people these types go after are family. They have in all likelihood conned someone into signing for the house for them, with the agreement they're making the payments, etc. The house in Tucson is under his old lady's name (withheld). Evidently the GF gets a monthly hand out from her elderly parents; they bought the house in Tucson for them.

Special Forces plate on his red Toyota Tacoma truck.

Phony Wannabe Joe Rios Gets Away with Another One:

Joe Rios was paid $1500 to build a "Special Forces Obstacle Course" for Walton Academy by Steve Ruder; former student and former friend of Joe Rios, and principal of the Academy.

On 25 August 2014 the FBI notified Ruder and told him the agency would NOT be pursuing the Rios case due to the monetary amount not being high enough to go further. The agency did confirm he was a Clerk Typist on active duty for a couple years. The Brotherhood spoke with Steve on the phone and he said Rios continues to build his web of lies to everyone he comes in contact with.

Unfortunately the FBI won't investigate Joe Rios for Stolen Valor because the $$$ amount was too low, but they investigate crap like THIS

"Stand By to Stand By"

Information is forthcoming on the Walton Academy fraud to include the tax form from $1500 payment to Joe Rios (which used federal education funding). Please check here for update.

Possible VA Fraud?

Apparently $1500 isn't enough to generate a Stolen Valor investigation, but I wonder if he's getting VA benefits from his "parachute accident"?

I guess we'll have to find out . . .

STORMBRINGER SENDS