Former Army civilian sentenced to 15 years for stealing nearly $109M

A Texas girl who was a civilian worker of the U.S. Military at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio was sentenced Tuesday to fifteen years in jail for stealing almost $109 million from a youth improvement program for youngsters of navy households.

Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Choose Xavier Rodriguez in federal courtroom in San Antonio after pleading responsible in March to 5 counts of mail fraud and 5 counts of submitting a false tax return.

Prosecutors say Mello, as monetary supervisor who dealt with funding for a youth program on the navy base, decided whether or not grant cash was obtainable. She created a fraudulent group known as Baby Well being and Youth Lifelong Improvement.

“Janet Mello betrayed the belief of the federal government company she served and repeatedly lied in an effort to complement herself,” mentioned U.S. Legal professional Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas.

“Slightly than $109 million in federal funds going to the care of navy youngsters all through the world, she selfishly stole that cash to purchase extravagant homes, greater than 80 automobiles and over 1,500 items of jewellery,” Esparza mentioned.

Protection legal professional Albert Flores mentioned Mello is deeply remorseful.

“She realizes she dedicated against the law, she did unsuitable and may be very ashamed,” Flores mentioned.

Flores mentioned Mello has saved many issues she purchased with the cash and hopes the gadgets are offered to reimburse the federal government. “I do not suppose the courtroom gave us sufficient credit score for that, however we will not complain,” Flores mentioned.

The protection has no plans to enchantment, he mentioned.

Prosecutors mentioned Mello used the pretend group she created to use for grants by means of the navy program. She stuffed out greater than 40 purposes over six years, illegally receiving almost $109 million, assistant U.S. Legal professional Justin Simmons wrote in a courtroom doc asking for Mello to be sentenced to greater than 19 years in jail.

Mello used the cash to purchase hundreds of thousands of {dollars} of actual property, clothes, high-end jewellery — together with a $923,000 jewellery buy on sooner or later in 2022 — and 82 automobiles that included a Maserati, a Mercedes, a 1954 Corvette and a Ferrari Fratelli bike.

Brokers executing a search warrant in 2023 discovered lots of the automobiles with useless batteries as a result of that they had not been operated in so lengthy, Simmons wrote.

Prosecutors mentioned Mello was in a position to steal a lot due to her years of expertise, knowledgeable data of the grant program, and accrued belief amongst her supervisors and associates.

“Mello’s penchant for extravagance is what introduced her down,” mentioned Lucy Tan, performing particular agent in command of the IRS Felony Investigation’s area workplace in Houston.

A co-worker and pal of Mello’s, Denise Faison, defended Mello in a letter to the decide.

“Janet Mello is an efficient, form, caring and loving particular person that may do no hurt to anybody,” Faison wrote. “Janet has a lot extra to supply the world. Please enable her to repay her debt to society by returning what she has taken however not be behind jail bars.”