‘Stolen Valor:” Lanam ‘stepping away’ from organization
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Kirk Lanam, the founder, president and executive director of Veteran Service Dogs Organization in Oceola Township near Howell in Livingston County, is “stepping away from the organization.”
That’s the news from an email sent out by the organization early Sunday and provided to 6 News.
“For the good of the organization, Kirk is stepping away from Veteran Service Dogs. We will be closed for the next two weeks while undergoing a reorganization,” the unsigned email reads.
It is unclear who authored the letter sent through the organization’s vet records management system or who is taking over the operations.
A 6 News Investigates report Aug. 1 found Lanam has claimed to be a combat operator, has military dog handling training and experience, and has attained the rank of major general in the United States Air Force. Those claims were refuted by his military records obtained from the Air Force Personnel Center in Texas and the National Personnel Records Center (NRPC) of the National Archives.
The military records show Lanam was discharged from the Air Force after less than two years of service. His rank when he was discharged in 1992 was Airman Basic (E-1), not an officer rank as he has claimed. Those records also reveal he did not attend any USAF training schools related to combat, special operations or dog handling.
Documents provided by Lanam’s stepson, Nathan Buchanan, show Lanam signed a letter to the USAF acknowledging he was being separated from the USAF because of a “personality disorder.” That document also acknowledges Lanam had consulted an attorney.
In addition, responding to veteran concerns and inquiries related to the ownership of the dogs, the organization says it’s prepared to transfer ownership without contest.
“For any of the veterans who are concerned about the legal ownership of the dogs, please use these next 2 weeks to send a message through the VetBadger clinic management system,” the letter reads. “Please include the address you wish to have the microchip registered to if the dog is microchipped. If you are not neglecting or abusing the dog, your request will be honored, and the appropriate steps will be taken to facilitate the transfer. VSDO has no intention of taking any dogs away.”
Veterans involved in the organization tell the 6 News Investigates Team they were required to sign a contract with VSDO upon entry — whether they bring their own dog for training or receive one from the organization — placing ownership in the hands of the organization and allowing the dog to be taken back in the event of abuse or neglect.
During the ongoing investigation by 6 News, information has surfaced that Lanam himself may be keeping dogs at the VSDO facility in poor conditions, with his stepson confirming “neglect or abuse” was happening. Those reports led to a revocation of Lanam’s evaluator status with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and a formal investigation by the organization.
The letter also claims a person involved in the organization accessed the organization’s systems without authorization and “destroyed Intellectual Property and Confidential Information.”
Lanam was convicted by a federal jury in 2006 on three felony counts of computer intrusion, or hacking, court records show. Federal District Court Judge Avern Cohn summarized the case in a 2008 ruling denying an appeal by Lanam:
“In March 2006, Lanam was indicted on six counts of unauthorized computer
intrusion in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(5)(A)(i).1 The government later voluntarily
dismissed three of the six counts. The remaining three counts asserted that Lanam: (1)
accessed the computer system of Total Mortgage Corporation (“Total”) without
authorization and entered “ping flood” 2 commands that rendered Total’s telephone
system inoperative; (2) accessed Total’s computer system without authorization and
disabled the “firewall,” 3 thereby rendering the system vulnerable to subsequent attacks
via the Internet; and (3) accessed the computer system of Air Source One, Inc. without
authorization in order to gain access to Total’s computer system.
Following a trial, a jury returned a guilty verdict against Lanam on all three counts
in November 2006.”Opinion by U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn, July 10, 2008
The author of the VSDO letter to veterans involved in the program assured participants the organization would pursue criminal prosecution against the person they allege breached the VSDO computer records.
“The incident is being reported to the authorities, and we are making sure that she has not compromised any sensitive information of any of the veterans in this program,” the letter reads. “We will be requesting that she be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Protection of your sensitive information is our top priority.”
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