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U.S. Military Photographer Cuts Deal On Passport Fraud Charge

MIAMI (CBS4) - A military photographer who served in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay has reached a deal with federal prosecutors in Miami on charges that he made a false statement on a U.S. passport application.

According to terms of the plea deal, Elisha Dawkins admitted he checked the wrong box on an application in 2006 but did not admit guilt to any crime. The pretrial diversion deal will likely require Dawkins to perform community service and the charge will be dropped.

A native of the Bahamas, Dawkins served in the Army reserves in Iraq as a photographer until 2007. Then he switched in 2008 to the Navy reserves and took photos at the Guantanamo terrorist detention center with a secret-level clearance.

Hundreds of Dawkins supporters said prosecutors should never have targeted an honorable military man. The charge carried a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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