{"id":2162365,"date":"2024-01-29T18:12:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T23:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/con-artist-accused-of-stealing-100m-from-army-is-allowed-to-retire-with-full-benefits-2\/"},"modified":"2024-01-29T18:14:26","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T23:14:26","slug":"con-artist-accused-of-stealing-100m-from-army-is-allowed-to-retire-with-full-benefits-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/con-artist-accused-of-stealing-100m-from-army-is-allowed-to-retire-with-full-benefits-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Accused &#8216;Con Artist&#8217; Who Stole $100M From Army Retires With Full Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcon-artist-accused-of-stealing-100m-from-army-is-allowed-to-retire-with-full-benefits-2%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2162365&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo via: Federal Court Documents)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>OAN\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/tag\/james-meyers\">James Meyers<\/a><br \/>2:33 PM \u2013 Monday, January 29, 2024<\/h2>\n<p>A civil service worker who was accused of defrauding the U.S. Army\u2062 out of $100 million was \u200bgranted the right to retire with full benefits. <\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-3\" style=\"min-width: 320px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center;\">  \t<script>  \t\tgoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-3'); });  \t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-slot__ad-label\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>57-year-old Janet Yamanaka \u200bMello, who is currently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/newsroom\/con-artist-accused-of-stealing-over-100m-from-army-to-buy-jewelry-clothing-vehicles-real-estate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">under criminal investigation<\/a>, claims that she earned her retirement package after purportedly using the funds to purchase more than 30\u200b homes, luxurious \u200citems, and high-end jewelry during a seven-year scheme. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" data-placeholder-image=\"https:\/\/c3.oann.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/complianz-gdpr\/assets\/images\/placeholders\/twitter-minimal.jpg\" class=\"cmplz-placeholder-element twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">REPORT: U.S. Army employee Janet Yamanaka Mello has been indicted after she allegedly stole $100 *million* from the United\u200b States\u2063 Army.<\/p>\n<p>Insane.<\/p>\n<p>Mello was reportedly able to gather $100 million with fraudulent paperwork before authorities noticed.<\/p>\n<p>Mello then used the money to\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lVSW7A57Ik\">pic.twitter.com\/lVSW7A57Ik<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CollinRugg\/status\/1745509284769882233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 11, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" async data-cmplz-src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>However, a\u200b spokesperson for the \u200bU.S. military admitted that they cannot take\u200b back the con \u2062artist\u2019s benefits as they\u2019re protected under\u200b a federal law that was held up in a government bureaucracy.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cThe command has no authority to impact \u2063Ms. Mello\u2019s retirement,\u201d \u2063an Army spokesperson told the <em>San Antonio Express-News<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cIn accordance with 5 U.S. Code Section \u20628312, 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 \u200bis no similar statutory authority for denying retired pay based on a conviction of other offenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/con-artist-accused-of-stealing-100m-from-army-is-allowed-to-retire-with-full-benefits\/\" title=\"Accused 'Con Artist' Stealing 0M from Army Retires with Full Benefits\">civil service worker allegedly created<\/a> a cover business in 2016 called Child Health \u2063and Youth Lifelong Development, which allowed her to siphon funds that she received from the U.S. Army to herself. <\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, \u200bthe 57-year-old was also bringing in $130,000 annually in her job role. <\/p>\n<p>The discovery of the plan began when the Internal Revenue Service \u200c(IRS) flagged\u200d Mello\u2019s phony business when she began including it on her tax returns in 2017. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>The Department of Justice \u200bissued a press release in December 2023, saying Mello \u201callegedly stole more than $100 million in Army funds by regularly submitting\u200b fraudulent paperwork\u2062 that indicated an entity she controlled was entitled to receive funds from\u200b the \u200dArmy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In response\u2062 to the claims, Mello \u200bsaid her business was \u2062\u201cto provide services \u200bto military members and their families through the 4-H program,\u201d but she instead used the funds to create her own lavish\u2063 lifestyle. <\/p>\n<p>Additionally, \u2063Mello purchased 31 properties in several states such as Maryland, Texas, and \u200dWashington. She also purchased \u2063over 80 luxurious vehicles. <\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, authorities confiscated over $18 million\u200c in cash from \u200csix different bank accounts\u200c connected to the 57-year-old. <\/p>\n<p>Mello was arrested last December and was charged with five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in \u200ca\u2064 monetary transaction over $10,000 using criminally derived proceeds, and one\u200b count of aggravated identity theft. <\/p>\n<p>She pleaded not guilty and is set to return to court in February. If\u200d found guilty, Mello will face a maximum prison sentence of \u2064142 years. <\/p>\n<p>Stay informed! Receive breaking \u2064news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts\">https:\/\/www.oann.com\/alerts<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"rc-widget-10bad2\" data-rc-widget data-widget-host=\"habitat\" data-endpoint=\"\/\/trends.revcontent.com\" data-widget-id=\"278641\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"dpsp-share-text\" style=\"margin-bottom:10px\"> \t\t \t\tShare this post!\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>The Biden \u200bAdministration is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-biden-seeks-endorsement-from-taylor-swift\/\" title=\"Biden seeks Taylor Swift's endorsement\">pushing gun control measures<\/a> onto\u2062 parents all in the name of public safety. \u200b <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>A Federal Jury orders Donald Trump to pay millions to writer E. Jean Carroll. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Israel vows \u200cto bring \u2063all of the \u2062hostages home as they look to Qatar to broker a new deal. \u2064 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Since the overturning of Roe V Wade, some corporations have interjected their social-political agendas, going as far as paying for their \u200demployees to travel out\u00a0of\u00a0state for \u200babortions. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>January 29, 2024 \u2013 6:18 AM PST (Reuters) \u2013 Microsoft\u00a0(MSFT.O)\u00a0is expected to report a 15.8% jump in quarterly \u2062revenue,\u200d its \u2063best growth\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>X is in the process \u200cof hiring 100 content moderators for a new office in Austin, Texas that \u2064will focus on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/49ers-storm-back-in-second-half-to-stun-lions-reach-super-bowl\/\" title=\"49ers rally in second half, shock Lions, make it to Super Bowl\">fighting child abuse content<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Intel\u00a0slumped more than 12% on Friday following a bleak\u200d first-quarter revenue outlook<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Microsoft\u00a0will let go\u200b of 1,900 employees at\u200c Activision Blizzard and Xbox this week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> rnrn  <\/p>\n<h2> What does the case of Janet\u200c Yamanaka Mello reveal about the need for \u2064stronger regulations \u200cand oversight within government institutions<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Title: U.S. Army Civil \u2063Service Worker Accused of Defrauding $100 Million Granted Retirement with Full Benefits<\/p>\n<p>Introduction:<\/p>\n<p>In a shocking \u2064turn of\u200b events, a civil service worker accused of defrauding the U.S.\u2062 Army of \u2064$100 million has been granted the right\u2062 to retire with full benefits. Janet Yamanaka Mello, a 57-year-old woman currently under criminal investigation,\u2063 allegedly used the \u200bstolen funds\u2062 to \u2063fund a\u200d luxurious lifestyle. Despite the allegations against her, Mello retains her retirement package, as \u200cit \u2063is \u200bprotected \u2064by federal law.<\/p>\n<p>The Allegations\u200d and Retirement Package:<\/p>\n<p>Janet Yamanaka Mello, a civil service worker for the \u200cU.S. Army, stands accused of defrauding\u2063 the institution of $100 million over a seven-year period. It is alleged that Mello used the embezzled funds to acquire over 30 homes, luxurious items, and high-end jewelry. Despite\u2063 facing a criminal investigation, Mello claims\u200d that \u2062she\u200b earned her retirement package using the misappropriated \u200cfunds.<\/p>\n<p>According to a spokesperson for \u2063the \u200cU.S. military, they are unable to revoke\u200d Mello&#8217;s retirement benefits due to\u2063 federal law and government\u2062 bureaucracy. Under the 5 U.S. Code Section\u200c 8312, an\u200d individual\u2062 may only \u200dbe \u2063denied retirement \u200bbenefits if convicted of treason, rebellion, insurrection, or similar\u200d offenses. As there is no similar statutory authority for denying benefits based on convictions of other \u2062offenses, Mello&#8217;s \u2064retirement remains intact.<\/p>\n<p>The Investigation and Criminal\u2062 Charges:<\/p>\n<p>The \u2063discovery of Mello&#8217;s fraudulent activities began \u200cwhen the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) flagged her phony business, Child Health and\u200b Youth Lifelong Development, in 2017. The Department of Justice issued a press release\u200b in December\u2063 2023,\u200c explaining that\u200b Mello allegedly stole over $100 million \u200din \u2064Army funds by regularly submitting fraudulent paperwork \u2063indicating that her controlled entity deserved funds from the Army.<\/p>\n<p>Following her \u2063arrest in December,\u200c Mello has been charged with \u200dfive counts of mail fraud, four counts\u200b of engaging in monetary transactions over $10,000 using criminally derived\u200b proceeds, \u200band one count of aggravated identity\u200b theft. Authorities have also seized over $18 million in \u200dcash from six different bank accounts linked to Mello.<\/p>\n<p>Mello&#8217;s Lavish Lifestyle:<\/p>\n<p>Contrary\u2063 to Mello&#8217;s claims of providing services to\u200c military members\u200d and their families through the\u2062 4-H program, the investigation has revealed\u200d her extravagant purchases and acquisitions. Alongside the 31 properties she owned in various states, including Maryland, Texas, and Washington,\u2063 Mello also \u2064accumulated more than 80 luxurious \u2064vehicles. The authorities&#8217; seizure of \u2062over $18\u2062 million in cash further suggests the extent of her lavish lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>Conclusion:<\/p>\n<p>The case of Janet \u200dYamanaka Mello highlights the need for stronger\u200d regulations and \u200coversight within government \u200binstitutions to prevent such fraudulent activities. \u2064Despite\u200b the allegations and\u2063 ongoing criminal investigation, Mello has been\u200b granted\u200b the right to retire with full benefits, protected by federal law. The outcome raises questions about the effectiveness of\u200b current laws and bureaucratic systems in dealing with \u2064cases of embezzlement and fraud.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, it is imperative that stricter measures and accountability mechanisms are implemented to safeguard\u2063 public funds and ensure that individuals perpetrating\u200b such crimes are held fully accountable. Failure to do so not only compromises the\u200d integrity of public institutions but also undermines the trust \u200dand confidence of the citizens they serve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A civil service worker accused of defrauding the U.S. Army of $100 million was allowed to retire with full benefits. Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, currently under criminal investigation, asserts she rightfully earned her retirement. (Photo: Federal Court Documents)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2301,"featured_media":2162366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[542],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2162365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oann"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2162365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2301"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2162365"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2162365\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2162366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2162365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2162365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2162365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}