SAN ANTONIO – A civilian employee accused of stealing $100 million from the U.S. Army made her first court appearance at the federal courthouse on Thursday.
Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, 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, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Authorities said Mello worked as a civilian financial program manager at the base.
She stole more than $100 million in Army funds by claiming Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development provided services to military members and their families, therefore receiving money from the Army, a news release states.
Authorities said Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development, which Mello controlled, did not provide services to that community.
Mello is accused of regularly submitting false paperwork that claimed the services and also falsifying the digital signature of one of her supervisors multiple times.
“The indictment alleges that Mello instead used the funds to buy millions of dollars in jewelry, clothing, vehicles, and real estate,” the release states.
If convicted, Mello could face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each fraud charge, a maximum of 10 years for each spending statute charge, and a minimum of two years for the aggravated identity theft charge.
She would also be forced to hand over money and goods she received as a result of the alleged crime.