Md. Man Charged With Lying About Credentials

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Maryland man has been arrested for a string of lies, including claiming a blockbuster movie was based on his life.

Derek Valcourt has details of the case.

William Hillar, 66, built a career for himself as a consultant and an expert on counterterrorism and human trafficking.  In fact, he claimed to be the inspiration for the movie "Taken," starring Liam Neeson.

He said that his own daughter was sold into sex slavery and then killed.

"They cut her body up with machetes and threw it in the South China Sea and it feels like yesterday but that was 1988," Hillar said.

His website identifies him as a retired colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces, saying he served in Asia, the Middle East and Central and South America, but none of it is true, according to federal prosecutors in Baltimore, who filed a criminal complaint for mail fraud against him Tuesday.  They describe it as an elaborate false identity case, saying countless clients were duped into paying him for speeches, lectures and training seminars from universities to local and state law enforcement---even the FBI.

Ironically, it was the FBI who arrested Hillar at his rented Millersville home Tuesday morning.

"There was all kinds of craziness going on, all kinds of crazy stories that I thought were a little strange," said neighbor Shirley Tyndall.

Tyndall said Hillar even told her he was a federal air marshal.

"Nobody's supposed to know who the air marshals are, so there was a lot of...every once in a while, I'd go, `This is a little strange,'" she said.

In court, prosecutors called Hillar a flight risk, but he told the judge if released, he would continue his consulting work and teaching school locally and on the west coast.

He faces up to 20 years in jail for the one mail fraud charge, but it's possible Hillar could face more charges as the FBI continues its investigation.

Bond was set for $50,000.  Hillar says he has the money, but he's being held in detention until officials find someone who will ensure he shows up for court appearances.