Help a Veteran Family Fight for Justice
Our Story:
Our family needs your help. After nearly three years of fighting to clear an innocent name, we're running out of resources to continue this battle.
My husband is a United States Marine Corps veteran who dedicated his career to serving this country. After his military service, he continued that dedication as a GS-15 software engineer for the Department of Defense, working on critical national security systems. He took his role in National Defense very seriously.
Three years ago, his world—and ours—was turned upside down when he was charged with federal crimes based on evidence gathered from an investigative system that we now know was actively compromised by malware at the time of the investigation. Significant technical data supports this fact, yet we're still fighting to prove his innocence.
We are a family of five:
- My husband, a Marine veteran and DoD software engineer, currently suspended without pay
- Myself, unable to work due to a severe autoimmune condition (Pyoderma Gangrenosum)
- Our two teenage children
- My 83-year-old mother, whose Social Security payments are the only thing keeping our mortgage current
For three years, we've been surviving on virtually nothing while my husband fights to clear his name. We're down to subsistence living—roughly $1,500-2,000 per month to feed, clothe, and care for five people.
Many people ask why my husband doesn't simply take another job while fighting this case. The answer is heartbreaking: if he takes other employment, the Department of Defense will have cause to terminate him permanently, and he will lose nearly $500,000 in backpay that he's owed once his name is cleared. We're trapped—we can't afford to fight, but we can't afford not to.
I would work to support our family, but Pyoderma Gangrenosum is a rare and debilitating autoimmune condition that makes employment impossible for me right now.
WARNING, Images of medical condition are graphic:
The Legal Battle Ahead
Federal criminal defense is extraordinarily expensive. We need:
- Competent federal defense attorneys: $50,000-$150,000
- Cybersecurity and technical expert witnesses: $30,000-$50,000 to prove the investigative system was compromised
- Living expenses: To keep our family fed and housed while this case proceeds (estimated 18-24+ months)
The evidence of the compromised system exists. The technical data is there. But proving it in federal court requires resources we simply don't have.
Early in the State case WIRED investigative reporter Dhruv Mehrotra covered a bond revocation based on software that is prohibited for premeditated legal settings.
A Retired Federal Judge Believes in Us
We are honored and humbled that a retired federal judge has committed to being the first donor to this campaign. This person, who spent decades serving justice in the federal court system, has reviewed our situation and believes in my husband's innocence. Their support gives us hope that others will see the truth too.
What We're Asking
We're asking for $100,000 to cover:
- Legal defense costs
- Expert witness fees to prove the system compromise
- Basic living expenses to keep our family together while we fight
-Medical expenses incurred after health insurance was cancelled
Every dollar will go directly toward clearing my husband's name and keeping our family afloat. We will provide regular updates on the case's progress (within legal boundaries) and how funds are being used.
Why This Matters
This isn't just about our family. It's about a veteran who served his country being prosecuted based on evidence from a compromised system. It's about whether we as a society will stand by those who dedicated their lives to protecting us when they need us most.
My husband wore the uniform. He's spent his career protecting our nation's digital infrastructure. Now we're asking for help to protect him.
Our Promise
If you help us, we promise:
- Complete transparency about how funds are used
- Regular updates (within legal constraints)
- To pay forward this kindness if we prevail and receive the back-pay owed
We understand times are hard for everyone. Even sharing this campaign with your network helps more than you know.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading our story. Thank you for considering helping us. And thank you for believing that justice still matters.
Organizer
