A defiant Maryland man who faked his death by jumping into the Chesapeake Bay near Virginia Beach was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, which he said amounts to a death sentence.
Larry Deffenbaugh was convicted in May of conspiracy and communicating a false distress signal.
Deffenbaugh's brother reported him missing from a fishing boat they had rented in 2009, two days before he was to be sentenced on a probation violation in Maryland. Coast Guard crews searched for Deffenbaugh for 15 hours. He was found in Texas last year using a different name.
Deffenbaugh maintained that he was innocent during sentencing Monday. He compared himself to a falsely accused Jesus during a lengthy speech.
He's been ordered to pay more than $200,000 restitution to the Coast Guard.
7 Years Amounts to Death Sentence: Man Who Faked Death
Copyright AP - Associated Press
