A Texas Army civilian faces a significant prison term for an alleged scheme to steal $100 million in military funds to fund a lavish lifestyle, prosecutors allege.
Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, a private finance program manager from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury in December on a 10-count indictment on the charges. If Mello is unable to accept a plea deal by Jan. 19, he will face jury selection and trial, according to court records.
According to court records, Melo allegedly used the stolen funds to amass 31 properties, 78 vehicles, more than $18 million in various bank accounts connected to her, and a collection of jewelry.
Some of the luxury properties include a $3.1 million, eight-bedroom, 55-car garage, 58-acre property in Maryland, and a $1.1 million home in San Antonio, Texas. .
At this time, it is unclear whether the properties were used to store Melo’s purported Jay Leno-style collection of classic and expensive cars and motorcycles.
The suspect vehicles (many of which are listed in court records currently cost between $100,000 and $200,000) include a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS, a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, a 1966 Ford Mustang, Included were a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette and a 1935 Plymouth sedan.
Mr. Melo must forfeit all of these assets, as well as any other proceeds and property allegedly obtained through criminal means.
According to the indictment, as of December 2016, the Army civilian had fraudulently created a fraudulent business indicating that a sham business she managed called Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development was entitled to receive funds from the 4-H Military Partnership. He is said to have carried out this plan by submitting documents on a regular basis. The grant program is a collaboration to “provide meaningful youth development opportunities for military-related children.”
The indictment alleges that Melo “used the trust he had developed over many years with his superiors and co-workers to obtain the necessary approvals.” She also allegedly falsified the digital signature of one of her supervisors multiple times.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, Mello was 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. There is.
If convicted, Mello faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each fraud charge, a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each expenditure law charge, and a minimum sentence of two years in prison for each aggravated identity theft charge. .
“The case is in a very early stage and we expect the evidence to be extensive. It will take time to consider. I do not believe this case will be resolved by the first date,” said defense attorney Albert Flores. he told the Messenger. Flores did not immediately respond to Military Times’ request for comment.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas declined to comment, saying the case remains open.
Jonathan is a staff writer and editor of the Military Times newsletter, “Early Bird Brief.” Follow him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media
