Iraq veteran committed suicide, Dad accused of using death as rip off

Father of Iraq veteran who committed suicide accused of defrauding donors
Oregon Live
By Michael Bamesberger
May 13, 2014

In this 2011 photo, Mike and Maria Brennan visit Matt's grave with his younger brother and sisters, from left, Aiden, 5, Isabella, 1, Ariel, 7 (back to camera), Christina, 9 (standing with her mother), and Sophia, 3 (back to camera). (Beth Nakamura / The Oregonian)

A Happy Valley man was arrested on Tuesday and accused of committing food stamp fraud, defrauding his disabled father-in-law and accepting charitable donations for a non-existent non-profit organization.

Authorities believe Michael Andrew Brennan, 50, was accepting donations online for what he called the "Matthew M. Brennan Foundation," a non-profit founded in honor of his late son, an Oregon National Guard veteran who committed suicide in 2011. Brennan claimed the donations would benefit soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder, but authorities allege the money went into his personal bank account.

"Our goal is to educate, raise awareness, be an advocate and help advance and establish much needed solutions" to post-tramautic stress disorder, stated an entry on the "Saving American's Heroes" website, run by Brennan and his wife Maria.

Investigators have not found evidence that any funds donated through the website went toward the stated mission, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

Brennan is also accused of stealing from his 65-year-old paraplegic father-in-law's bank account and using the money for personal purchases, including a Happy Valley home.
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