A Texas woman is facing nearly 150 years in prison after she defrauded the US Army out of $100 million, allegedly using the funds to buy more than 30 homes, luxury cars and jewelry in a seven-year scheme.
Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, who works as a public finance program manager at Fort Sam Houston, came up with a plan in 2016 to create a business titled “Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development” so that she could siphon funds received from the Army for herself.
“Mello allegedly stole more than $100 million in Army funds by regularly submitting fraudulent paperwork showing entities he controlled were entitled to receive funds from the Army,” according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
The alleged fraudster began his scam in 2016 when he created a fake business called “Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development (CHYLD),” according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Mello claims his business provides services to military members and their families through the 4-H program but instead only funds a lavish lifestyle for himself.
Janet Yamanaka Mello was charged with 10 counts after siphoning money from the US Army into a fake business she created so she could make luxury purchases. Federal Court Documents
The Military 4-H program “focuses on positive youth development through providing opportunities for youth to engage in intentional learning experiences.”
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) flagged Mello’s business as suspicious when he included it on his personal tax return in 2017, reporting a $483 profit on $2,152 in revenue, the outlet added.
Since 2017, He has not filed a tax return for CHYLD.
Mello, who earns $129,996 in 2022, bought 31 different properties in Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Texas and Washington.
Among his purchases was a 1966 Ford Mustang (not the one pictured.) Sue Thatcher
One property is worth $3.1 million, an eight-bed, 12-bath mansion in Preston, Maryland with a 55-space garage on 58 acres, according to the outlet.
Another property he added to his portfolio is a $2.3 million home in Castle Rock, Colorado with four bedrooms and six bathrooms on 35 acres.
Along with the large amount of real estate he bought, Mello also splurged and bought 78 vehicles.
He built a motorcycle collection that included 16 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, five Triumphs, four Ducatis, two BMWs and a 1955 Ferrari Fratelli 165 Racer.
With the $100 million Mello stole, he bought millions of dollars worth of jewelry along with his 31 properties. cobalt
He allegedly also bought a 2018 Maserati GranTurismo, a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette, a 1966 Ford Mustang, five Mercedes-Benzes and two Aston Martins, according to Messenger.
Authorities also seized more than $18 million in cash from six different accounts connected to Mello.
Mello was arrested in December and charged with five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in financial transactions over $10,000 using the proceeds of crime, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
“The indictment also includes a forfeiture notice for the proceeds and property Mello obtained as a result of the alleged criminal conduct,” said the Department of Justice.
He was released without bail and the US District Court for the Western District of Texas awaits a January 19 deadline for whether Mello will take a plea deal or face a jury selection and trial on February 12.
If found guilty, Mello faces a maximum sentence of 142 years in prison.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
