A Benton County man was arrested Friday after federal agents said he posed as a decorated Navy SEAL and illegally provided firearms and security training in another state. He is also accused of bilking investors out of $850,000.
Arthur James Dicken, of Garfield, was arrested on suspicion of federal charges that include possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony. Dicken was booked into the Benton County Jail without bond while being held for federal authorities, according to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
The U.S. Marshals service and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have been pursuing Dicken since his time in Carson City, Nev., where he allegedly operated a military style self-defense school, according to a statement released by the U.S. Marshals.
“Dicken is alleged to have passed himself off as a highly decorated Navy Seal, who had served in dozens of covert combat missions from the jungles of Vietnam to the caves of Afghanistan,” the statement reads. “Dicken, as it was later confirmed, had never served in the military. Dicken often wore the Navy SEAL trident insignia and loved to show off his numerous awards to include two Congressional Medal of Honor awards.”
U.S. Marshals said Dicken provided illegal firearms and self-defense tactics training at his Carson City school, after which he was exposed as a fraud by television shows 20/20 and Inside Edition. Dicken is also accused of embezzlement and fraud, following allegations he bilked investors out of more than $850,000 for a proposed new international security firm, according to the U.S. Marshals office.
Through an investigation, U.S. Marshals determined Dicken was staying in a small recreational vehicle on Slate Gap Road in Garfield. He was arrested without incident Friday.
