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Fort Sam Houston Financial Manager Accused of Embezzling Over $100 Million in Army Funds
A civilian financial program manager at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, is facing serious legal consequences after allegedly embezzling more than $100 million in military funds. Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, is accused of orchestrating an elaborate scheme by creating a fake business in 2016, claiming to assist military children through the “Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development” initiative under the 4-H Military Partnership Grant program.
Instead of aiding the intended beneficiaries, Mello is alleged to have regularly submitted fraudulent paperwork, diverting funds to her own account and engaging in a six-year-long embezzlement spree.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Mello’s role as a financial program manager involved assessing the eligibility of entities applying for 4-H program funds. Exploiting her position, she reportedly manipulated the system, redirecting approved funds to a UPS store mailbox she rented near San Antonio. The checks were then deposited into her personal bank account. The DOJ release notes that Mello repeated this process over forty times, accumulating over $100 million for personal gain.
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Federal prosecutors assert that instead of fulfilling the program’s intended purpose of providing meaningful opportunities for military-connected children, Mello spent the misappropriated funds on extravagant personal items. These purchases allegedly include jewelry, clothing, vehicles, and an extensive real estate portfolio comprising 31 properties in various states.
Mello faces multiple charges, including five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in monetary transactions exceeding $10,000 using criminally derived proceeds, and one count of aggravated identity theft. The latter charge stems from allegations of falsifying her supervisor’s digital signature on multiple occasions. The accused appeared in federal court on December 14, as the legal proceedings unfold against her.
