An Army official faces decades in prison for stealing more than $100 million in military funds to buy luxury cars, jewelry and more than 30 homes by forging receipts and expenditures.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, was born at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, in 2016 when she set up a fake business purporting to help children of military personnel. He worked as a private finance program manager at
Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development was to serve military children through the 4-H Military Partnership Grant Program. Instead, Mr. Mello used the funds to line his own pockets, federal prosecutors said.
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Entrance to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. Janet Mello, 57, who worked as a civilian employee at a military installation, was charged with stealing more than $100 million in Army funds. (U.S. Air Force)
“Mello allegedly stole more than $100 million in Army funds by regularly submitting fraudulent documents indicating that organizations she controlled were eligible to receive funds from the Army,” the Justice Department said in a release. said.
The federal complaint states that the 4-H program is intended to provide “meaningful youth development opportunities for military children.” Part of Mello's job was to determine whether his 4-H program funds were available to the various organizations that applied.
Melo's superiors will then approve the distribution of funds to applicants.
Once approved, Mello directed the funds to be sent to a mailbox at a rented UPS store near San Antonio and deposited the check into his bank account, authorities said.
“as a whole, [Mello] “We repeated this process more than 40 times over six years, securing more than $100 million in the process,” the Justice Department said.
Janet Yamanaka Mello is accused of forging receipts and expenses and stealing more than $100 million in military funds to buy luxury cars, jewelry and more than 30 homes. (Getty Images/File)
Instead of using the funds to provide services, federal prosecutors say, Mello spent millions of dollars on jewelry, clothing, vehicles and real estate. She is said to have purchased 31 properties in Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Texas and Washington, according to a report in the San Antonio Express-News.
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Mello was charged with five counts of email fraud, four counts of using the proceeds of crime to engage in financial transactions in excess of $10,000, and one count of aggravated identity theft for altering the digital signature of one of his supervisors “multiple times.” has been indicted for.
Mello appeared in federal court on December 14, according to the Department of Justice.
FOX News Digital has reached out to the Army and Melo's attorney for comment.
