Blake Hall
Detroit police arrested William Street Jr. after discovering him with a doctor’s lab coat and the personal documents of a man named William Benn Stratton, a former Green Beret and defense contractor in Maryland.
After reading about Stratton’s participation in a marathon in 2013, Street constructed his new identity by obtaining copies of Stratton’s West Point diplomas and transcripts. He even secured a U.S. Military Academy class ring in Stratton’s name, an act that crosses the line from simple forgery to stolen valor.
“The gall of this guy,” Stratton said to Detroit News. “It’s hard for me to have sympathy for him. He brought it on himself. I am very concerned about what he may have done under my persona.”
Stratton is the vice president of ClearShark, a defense contractor that works with the DoD. While he was worried Street was using his identity to get government information, Street was merely interested in the shining reputation of West Point and the Green Berets.
Street used his fake experience as a Green Beret to give speeches at alumni events and pick up women. Judging by his creepy mugshot, this nutty scheme won him no hearts.
This is only the latest offense in Street’s con artist career, which spans half a century. He has posed as professional athletes, threatened Detroit Tigers player Willie Horton and nearly performed surgery while posing as a doctor. His record is so extensive and notorious that he inspired the award-winning Sundance film Chameleon Street in 1990.
Street is now being questioned by the FBI and will remain locked up as he awaits trial.
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