Madisonville man arrested after allegedly falsifying military paperwork, police say

MADISONVILLE, Ky. – A Madisonville man was arrested after police say he provided fraudulent military documents to the VFW.

According to a uniform citation, the Madisonville Police Department began investigating 56-year-old James Werfelman, of Madisonville, after the State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars provided a possible fraudulent certificate of release from active duty.

The commander says Werfelman was elected to an officer position, but following a review of his documents, they determined he did not meet the requirements to be a member of the VFW, according to the citation.

After the VFW told Werfelman that he was not eligible, he provided a “Combat Action Ribbon.”

According to authorities, the document is fraudulent.

MPD says that Werfelman also provided the alleged fraudulent document to the Hopkins County Clerk’s Office on November 7, 2025.

Werfelman was arrested and charged with second-degree forgery. He was lodged at the Hopkins County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing.