EAST ST. LOUIS -- Sentencing will be in February for an Army veteran who plotted with his wife to bilk the U.S. government by faking paralysis to get disability benefits and avoid being deployed to Iraq.

Jeffrey Rush pleaded guilty Friday in federal court in East St. Louis to charges of fraud conspiracy, mail fraud and making a false statement to a federal agency. Rush used to live in Glen Carbon but has since moved to Nashville, Tenn.

The Rushes claimed he lost the use of his legs after a November 2004 rollover crash. That was just weeks before his Army company from Kansas was shipped off to Iraq without him.

Jeffrey Rush went on to collect federal disability benefits. The couple also tried to defraud through a product-liability lawsuit against Ford over the rollover wreck.

Amy Rush already pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.