Life isn't so magical anymore.
An Army contractor and his girlfriend defrauded the government of nearly $500,000 to take dozens of luxury vacations to Walt Disney World while claiming they were traveling for work.
Thomas Bouchard, 61, used his government connections to hire his girlfriend, Kantel Boyd, 53, as his assistant for a “no-show” job and took him to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He was able to take numerous vacations, including 31 trips. — they claimed to be work-related, According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Prosecutors say the elaborate scheme cost the Pentagon more than $490,000.
Mr. Bouchard, then head of the U.S. Army's Natick Contracting Division in Massachusetts, used his “longstanding relationship” with government contractor Evolution Enterprises to hire Mr. Boyd as an assistant to support him.
Prosecutors said Mr. Boyd was paid a government salary of $487,658, but was given an additional $75,583 in government travel expenses from 2014 to 2018, saying he had “little beneficial assignments.” It was said to be costly.
The couple booked vacations ranging from two to 15 days under the guise of work-related trips, which included staying in hotels, lounging by the pool, and visiting Disney parks during business hours.
In addition to Disney, the couple also traveled to other locations in Virginia and Florida.
Prosecutors argued that Bouchard sought reimbursement by concealing the details of the trip and falsifying and approving expense records.
Federal authorities arrested the couple in July 2020 and each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of theft of government funds and making false statements.
Bouchard was sentenced on August 5 to one year and one day in prison and is required to pay $487,658 in restitution.
“Those of us who are privileged to serve as public servants have an obligation to our taxpayers to always act with integrity,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. said about Bouchard in a news release..
“This defendant clearly failed to uphold this solemn oath and abused his position of trust to line his own pockets, hiring friends into fictitious positions and enjoying junkets all for taxpayers' dime. , you will pay the price for your unforgivable actions.”
Mr. Boyd was sentenced on October 2 to six months of home confinement.
Prosecutors recommended a six-month sentence and said Mr Boyd would have to pay restitution “at a later date.”
