Garfield man arrested, subject of scam probe
A Garfield man under investigation in Nevada over accusations he embezzled investors’ money while presenting himself as a former Navy SEAL was arrested by authorities from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Benton County Sheriff ’s Office on a firearms charge Feb. 14.
Arthur James Dicken, 57, was arrested in Garfield on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Carson City sheriff ’s office in Nevada began its investigation into Dicken in 2012. Detective Steven Olson said he was looking into accusations of firearms possession and embezzlement in connection to claims that Dicken took more than $850,000 from investors after telling them he was an ex-Navy SEAL starting an international security firm.
Dicken told the investors he had served in “dozens of covert combat missions from the jungles of Vietnam to the caves of Afghanistan,” according to a news release.
Dicken never served in the military, although he wore the Navy SEAL trident insignia and showed off awards that included two Medals of Honor.
Olson the FBI took over the embezzlement investigation and that he did not know whether federal agents were still pursuing it.
Olson first made contact with Dicken in October 2012, when he called to tell Dicken that he needed to register as a felon, which he had failed to do.
Years ago, Dicken served time in California after he was convicted of burglary, said Tony Overstreet, a U.S. Marshals Service spokesman for the Western District of Arkansas.
Olson said his next contact with Dicken was regarding a picture of Dicken holding a gun, which Dicken told him was fake. Olson said he was unable to dispute the claim, but he began the investigation into the firearms and embezzlement accusations in December 2012.
From Carson City, Dicken moved to Garfield.
The sheriff ’s office in Carson City issued a warrant for his arrest Jan. 29, Overstreet said.
Dicken was arrested in the RV he was living in on property he was leasing in Garfield. He was still in Benton County jail March 4 awaiting extradition to Nevada, Overstreet said.
Earlier this year, ABC’s 20/20 program investigated Dicken and tracked him down in Arkansas, according to an article posted Jan. 3 on its website.