A Texas “Gucci goddess” who stole millions of dollars from the U.S. military and splurged on luxury homes, cars and handbags pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud and tax charges.
Janet Yamanaka Mello is accused of defrauding the government of $108 million while working as a private finance program manager at Fort Sam Houston.
She pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas to all five counts of mail fraud and all five counts of filing a false tax return following her indictment from December 2023, the newspaper said. It has been reported. san antonio express news.
Melo, 57, founded the fake vendor Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development (CHYLD) in 2016 to serve military families through 4-H programs. The program “focuses on positive youth development by providing opportunities for youth to participate in intentional activities” learning experiences. ”
Prosecutors said the company was used only to steal money from the U.S. government during her seven-year scheme and did not provide any financial support for the scheme.
Instead, the scammer used the funds to fuel her and her husband’s lavish lifestyle.
She purchased 31 different properties in Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington.
Her Preston, Maryland, mansion, valued at $3.1 million, was set on 58 acres and included eight bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, and a 55-car garage.
Melo also purchased more than 80 vintage performance cars and motorcycles, including four Ducatis, 16 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, two Aston Martins, a 1966 Ford Mustang, and a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette. Some of them are worth more than $150,000.
According to the paper, the scammer received the nickname “Gucci Goddess” from the courier because she delivered large quantities of packages from luxury brands such as Coach, Gucci and Louis Vuitton to her home. Exit.
“She talked about having expensive jewelry and just going here and there, all of which was made possible because of her wealthy husband,” a friend of Melo’s, who requested anonymity, told the magazine. Told.
“She would come in her Mercedes or Land Rover and say, ‘This is a gift from my rich husband.'”
Her ruse began after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) flagged the suspicious business after Melo listed the business on her personal tax return in 2017 and reported a profit of $483 on income of $2,152. It was discovered when I set it up.
She had not filed a CHYLD tax return since 2017.
The IRS’ criminal investigation division then began an investigation with Army criminal investigators.
According to the paper, both agencies searched Melo’s home in August.
After the attack, Melo’s superiors at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston allowed the fraudster to retire with full benefits, but the military could not withhold her benefits. acknowledged.
An Army spokesperson said in response to the report that the command “does not have the authority to influence Mr. Melo’s retirement.”
Melo’s lawyer, Albert Flores, told the outlet that his client is “earning” his retirement benefits but “doesn’t understand how one thing relates to another.” Ta.
Investigator I got it. The theft was made possible due to a blunder on the part of the Army.
In addition to seizing several of her properties and recovering funds, the government also plans to search more than $18 million found in six bank accounts linked to Melo and Childe, according to documents.
One account is reportedly linked to a livestock company Melo founded with her husband.
Her husband has not filed a claim.
Mello could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for each mail fraud charge and up to five years in prison for each tax fraud charge.
She is currently sentenced to 125 years in prison, but her plea deal could result in less than the maximum sentence.
Her plea hearing in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
