A 57-year-old San Antonio woman allegedly stole more than $103 million from the U.S. military by regularly withdrawing funds through a fake child support business she controlled. Janet Yamanaka Melo reportedly depleted her funds and she purchased 80 luxury cars, 100 cows, 31 houses, and various luxury items.
Mello was indicted last month on 10 charges related to the fraud scheme, but was allowed to retire from the Army with full benefits.
Cons
Mello, a native of Guam, worked as a military civilian at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, where he is said to have assisted in arms control.
4-H efforts Through the Army’s Division of Children and Youth Services; according to on court documents.
In addition to her work in the Army, she started a shell company in 2016 called Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development. She listed CHYLD on her personal tax return for 2017, showing she earned $483 in income on $2,152 in training consultation fees.
report San Antonio Express News.
According to court documents, MELLO “used his knowledge of fundraising procedures and ability to approve the distribution of funds to various entities to direct funds from the CYS program’s endowment account to entities established and controlled by MELLO.” The company did not disclose the fact that the company instructed CHYLD to make the payment. She owned and controlled CHYLD, and MELLO authorized the payment of government funds to CHYLD. ”
The Defense Financial Accounting Agency reportedly made more than 40 payments to Mello’s organization during the course of the alleged fraud. Melo allegedly spread his ill-gotten gains to various bank accounts he controlled and failed to report any of this income on his tax returns for tax years 2017 through 2022.
Mello claimed that CHYLD provided 4-H services to military members and their families, but the Department of Justice suggested the company did not provide any services. Instead, Melo is accused of spending more than $103 million on “luxury retail items, jewelry, luxury cars, air travel, and luxury real estate across the country.”
army times
report Melo’s purchase included an eight-bedroom, 55-car garage for about $3.1 million, he said. 58 acres in Maryland and a $1.1 million home in San Antonio.
Melo successfully purchased a fleet of vehicles that included a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS, ’66 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, ’66 Ford Mustang, ’54 Chevrolet Corvette, 1935 Plymouth Sedan, and a variety of other cars that typically cost over $100,000. It is said that he did. Up to $200,000.
In addition to cars and mansions, Melo reportedly purchased various luxury condominiums, spent $24.3 million on “retail,” traveled the world, and purchased 100 cows.
I got caught
The Express-News reported that the IRS began investigating after noticing discrepancies between Melo’s millionaire lifestyle and what he could have afforded with an annual income of less than $130,000. The agency immediately began a criminal investigation in cooperation with Army investigators, which resulted in her being indicted in December.
Mello was arrested in December and charged with five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in financial transactions over $10,000 using proceeds of crime, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
according to to the Department of Justice.
Mello was charged with identity theft for allegedly forging his boss’ digital signature, the Express-News reported. She also appears to have fabricated a “financial analyst and redemption coordinator” named Kathy Johnson to lend credibility to her fraud scheme.
The alleged fraudster faces up to 20 years in prison for each fraud charge, up to 10 years in prison for each disbursement charge, and a minimum of two years in prison for each identity theft charge.
Despite the cheap retirement;
Despite allegedly defrauding the military and wasting tax money on his own pleasures, Melo was allowed to retire with full benefits.
Army Facilities Management Command Spokesperson
Said The Express-News reported that Melo was allowed to retire pending an investigation into misconduct allegations.
“The command has no authority to influence Mr. Melo’s retirement,” the spokesperson said. “Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 8312, if an individual is convicted of treason, treason, sedition, or other similar crime, he or she may be denied pension or retirement benefits based on his or her service. Similar legal powers exist to deny severance payments based on convictions for other crimes.”
Albert Flores defended Melo’s decision to retire and collect additional benefits from taxpayers, arguing that “she earned it.”
“I don’t see how one thing relates to another,” Flores added.
Even though it’s melody
pleaded not guilty In December, her attorney suggested that Melo had either blown or was in possession of stolen assets.
“We expect the majority of the assets to be recovered,” Flores said. “In other words, a lot of money has been spent on real estate, cash, vehicles, property, assets of that nature that the government can (recover). He’s very cooperative with everything.” ”
The Justice Department is currently seizing 31 parcels of land, cash, and 78 personal cars, trucks, and motorcycles that Melo acquired in various states.
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas is reportedly awaiting a ruling on whether the fraud suspect will take a plea deal or stand trial.
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