Texas woman who scammed the US Army out of more than $100M sentenced, looks devastated outside court

A Texas female who scammed subject families retired of much than $100million successful one of the biggest fraud cases the US Army has ever seen has been sentenced to 15 years successful jail.

Janet Mello created a ammunition institution successful 2016 earlier splashing retired connected aggregate mansions, 82 supercars, motorcycles and flashy designer jewelry complete six years.

The 57-year-old San Antonio autochthonal swindled money from a younker improvement programme for children successful subject families to money her royal lifestyle. 

Mello pleaded blameworthy successful March to 5 counts of message fraud and 5 counts of filing a taxation return. She was sentenced by US District Judge Xavier Rodriguez connected Tuesday.

The conman looked stony faced pinch her regard fixed connected nan level arsenic she marched toward nan courtroom hand-in-hand pinch her biker hubby earlier they learned her fate.

They some wore all-black outfits - Mello pinch reference glasses and her bearded partner pinch acheronian RayBan sunshades. 

During nan last proceeding successful San Antonio, prosecutors elaborate really 'Gucci goddess' Mello made lavish purchases complete nan mammoth fraud, including spending $923,000 connected jewelry successful a azygous time successful 2022.

She had been moving arsenic a civilian worker astatine Fort Sam Houston erstwhile she began stealing money successful 2016. 

Mello was a financial head who handled backing for a younker programme astatine nan subject guidelines and wished whether assistance money was available. 

She created a fraudulent group called Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development, prosecutors said.

US Attorney Jaime Esparza said Mello 'betrayed nan spot of nan authorities agency she served and many times lied successful an effort to enrich herself'.

'Rather than $109 cardinal successful national costs going to nan attraction of subject children passim nan world, she selfishly stole that money to bargain royal houses, much than 80 vehicles and complete 1,500 pieces of jewelry,' Esparza told nan court. 

Defense lawyer Albert Flores countered that Mello is profoundly remorseful. 'She realizes she committed a crime, she did incorrect and is very ashamed,' he said.

Flores added Mello has saved galore things she bought pinch nan money and hopes nan items are sold to reimburse nan government. 

Prosecutors said Mello utilized nan clone statement she created to use for grants done nan subject program. 

She filled retired much than 40 applications complete six years, illegally receiving astir $109 million, adjunct US Attorney Justin Simmons wrote successful a tribunal archive asking for Mello to beryllium sentenced to much than 19 years successful prison.

Mello utilized nan money to bargain millions of dollars of existent estate, clothing, high-end jewelry and 82 vehicles that included a Maserati, a Mercedes, a 1954 Corvette and a Ferrari Fratelli motorcycle.

Agents executing a hunt warrant successful 2023 recovered galore of nan vehicles pinch dormant batteries because they had not been operated successful truthful long, Simmons wrote.

Prosecutors said Mello was capable to bargain truthful overmuch because of her years of experience, master knowledge of nan assistance program, and accumulated spot among her supervisors and co-workers.

'Mello's penchant for extravagance is what brought her down,' said Lucy Tan, acting typical supplier successful complaint of nan IRS Criminal Investigation's section agency successful Houston.

A co-worker and friend of Mello's, Denise Faison, defended Mello successful a missive to nan judge.

'Janet Mello is simply a good, kind, caring and loving personification that would do nary harm to anyone,' Faison wrote. 

'Janet has truthful overmuch much to connection nan world. Please let her to repay her indebtedness to nine by returning what she has taken but not beryllium down situation bars.'

Mello's lawyer said she does not scheme to entreaty nan sentence.