Accused ‘Con Artist’ Stealing $100M from Army Retires with Full Benefits
OAN’s James Meyers
2:33 PM – Monday, January 29, 2024
A civil service worker who was accused of defrauding the U.S. Army out of $100 million was granted the right to retire with full benefits.
57-year-old Janet Yamanaka Mello, who is currently under criminal investigation, claims that she earned her retirement package after purportedly using the funds to purchase more than 30 homes, luxurious items, and high-end jewelry during a seven-year scheme.
However, the military admitted that they cannot keep back the con artist’s benefits as they’re protected under a federal law that was held up in a government bureaucracy.
“The command has no authority to impact Ms. Mello’s retirement,” an Army spokesperson told the San Antonio Express-News.
“In accordance with 5 U.S. Code Section 8312, an individual may be denied an annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual, if the individual is convicted of treason, rebellion or insurrection, or other similar offenses. There is no similar statutory authority for denying retired pay based on a conviction of other offenses.”
The civil service worker allegedly created a fake company in 2016 called Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development, which allowed her to siphon funds she received from the Army to herself.
Meanwhile, the 57-year-old has been bringing in $130,000 per year at her role.
The discovery of the plan began when the Internal Revenue Service flagged Mello’s alleged business when she began including it on her tax returns in 2017.
The Department of Justice issued a press release in December 2023, saying Mello “allegedly stole more than $100 million in Army funds by regularly submitting fraudulent paperwork that indicated an entity she controlled was entitled to receive funds from the Army.”
In response to the claims, Mello said her alleged business was to provide services to military members and their families through the 4-H program, but instead used the funds to build her own lavish lifestyle.
Additionally, Mello purchased 31 properties in several states such as Maryland, Texas and Washington. She also purchased over 80 luxurious vehicles.
Furthermore, authorities confiscated over $18 million in cash from six different accounts connected to the 57-year-old.
Mello was arrested last December and was charged with five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in a monetary transaction over $10,000 using criminally derived proceeds, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
She pleaded not guilty and is set to return to court in February. If found guilty, Mello will face a maximum prison sentence of 142 years.
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What federal law protects retirement benefits for civil service workers, even those accused of significant fraud like Janet Yamanaka Mello?
Title: U.S. Civil Service Worker Accused of Defrauding U.S. Army Granted Retirement Benefits
Introduction:
In a surprising turn of events, a civil service worker who allegedly defrauded the U.S. Army of $100 million has been granted the right to retire with full benefits. Janet Yamanaka Mello, a 57-year-old woman currently under criminal investigation, has been accused of using the embezzled funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of multiple properties and luxury items. This decision raises questions about the protection of retirement benefits for individuals involved in fraudulent activities.
Background:
Janet Yamanaka Mello, an employee of the U.S. Army, has been indicted on charges of stealing a staggering $100 million from the United States Army. According to reports, Mello conducted a seven-year scheme, during which she allegedly used fraudulent paperwork to divert funds to a fake company she created called Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development. As a result, she was able to purchase more than 30 homes, luxurious items, and high-end jewelry. The discovery of her fraudulent activities began when the Internal Revenue Service flagged her alleged business in 2017, leading to further investigation.
Retirement Benefits:
Despite the criminal charges against her, Mello has been granted the right to retire with full benefits, as the military acknowledged that it lacks the authority to withhold her retirement package. This is due to a federal law that protects retirement benefits for individuals unless they are convicted of certain crimes such as treason, rebellion, or insurrection. As Mello’s offenses do not fall under these categories, she cannot be denied her retirement benefits. The Army spokesperson emphasized this point, stating that there is no similar statutory authority to deny her benefits based on conviction for other offenses.
Consequences:
The granting of retirement benefits to Mello, despite her involvement in a significant fraud case, raises concerns about the existing legal framework for protecting retirement benefits. In this case, Mello’s actions have resulted in substantial financial loss for the U.S. Army, yet she is still entitled to retire with full benefits. This highlights a gap in the legislation that needs to be addressed to prevent those involved in fraudulent activities from benefiting financially at the expense of their crimes.
Confiscation and Criminal Charges:
In addition to her retirement benefits, Mello has faced further consequences for her actions. Authorities have confiscated over $18 million in cash from six different accounts connected to her. Furthermore, Mello has been arrested and charged with five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in a monetary transaction over $10,000 using criminally derived proceeds, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Conclusion:
Janet Yamanaka Mello’s case sheds light on the challenging legal landscape surrounding retirement benefits for individuals involved in fraudulent activities. The granting of retirement benefits to Mello, despite her alleged involvement in a massive embezzlement scheme, calls for a reexamination of existing legislation to ensure that those who commit similar offenses cannot benefit financially. As investigations proceed and legal procedures take their course, it remains to be seen how this case will influence future policies and regulations concerning retirement benefits in cases of fraudulent activities.
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