MORE information about con artist Janet Yamanaka Mello has been revealed after the former Army employee stole millions from military families.
Janet, 57, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on Tuesday for defrauding more than $108 million from a grant program intended for military dependents.
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Janet was nicknamed the Gucci Goddess for her love of extravagance and luxury.
According to court documentsHis first luxury purchase was a fourteen-acre lot and a five-acre lot in Verde Mountain Estates, Texas.
Janet and her husband, Mark, paid about $404,000 in cash for the two properties.
They then purchased a four-bedroom house in a gated neighborhood for $678,000.
As the scam continued, the value of his properties increased.
The Mellos purchased a stunning Colorado home for $2.3 million in cash and two adjacent properties in Canyon Lake, Texas, for a staggering total of $3.3 million.
His last real estate purchase was a mansion in Maryland for $3.1 million, bringing his real estate portfolio to a whopping $23 million.
They purchased a number of vehicles, including several antique motorcycles, several Rovers, a Chevrolet Corvette, a Maserati and a Mercedes Benz.
Goddess Gucci and her accomplice purchased at least 82 vehicles, worth a total of approximately $3.5 million.
Janet also spent more than $923,000 on designer jewelry, including bracelets, statement brooches, rings and watches.
THE SCHEME
Janet illegally pocketed the money while working at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
To make matters worse, the funds were intended to care for the children of active military personnel while they were stationed outside the U.S., according to court documents.
“She did this by betraying the credibility and trust she had built up over many years as a civilian employee of the Army,” court documents say.
Janet worked as a civilian financial program manager and helped military families apply for grants.
Complete list of the Mellos’ fraudulent purchases
Janet Mello and her husband spent $108 million on luxury goods and real estate after running an illegal fraud scheme. The full list of your purchases is included below,
- Green Mountain Trail in San Antonio properties: $404,000
- Fossil Forest Drive Mansion: $678,500
- Colorado mansion: $2.3 million
- Canyon Lake Mansion: $3.3 million
- Maryland mansion: $3.1 million
- 1905 Indian Prince motorcycle: $37,000
- 1955 Ferrari Fratelli 165 Racer motorcycle: US$34,000
- 1953 Maserati 125 GT Racer Motorcycle: $8,000
- 1966 BMW R69S: $34,000
- 1993 Land Rover Defender: $155,000
- 1911 Harley Davidson 7 Single: $65,000
- 2023 Land Rover Range Rover: $239,960
- 2022 Mercedes Benz GLS-63: $130,000
- 2018 Maserati Gran Turismo: $129,000
- 2023 Land Rover Defender: $129,000
- 1954 Chevrolet Corvette: $120,000
- Luxury jewelry: $923,000
She was responsible for finding grant funds, getting them approved by her supervisor, and submitting the proposal to the Defense Financial Accounting Service.
Janet created a business called Child Health and Lifelong Development of Young People to channel the money.
She would forge her supervisor’s signature on proposals needed to secure the money or lie about the intent of the funds.
Once DFAS received their proposals, they sent the money to a mailbox at the UPS Store in San Antonio, which Janet rented.
Court documents state that she went through this false proposal process more than 40 times in six years.
“Janet Mello betrayed the trust of the government agency she served and repeatedly lied in an effort to enrich herself,” U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza said in a statement. Press release.
“Instead of $109 million in federal funds earmarked for the care of military children around the world, she selfishly stole that money to buy extravagant homes, more than 80 vehicles and more than 1,500 pieces of jewelry.”
Janet’s lawyer, Albert Flores, said she was “deeply sorry.”
“She realizes that she committed a crime, she did something wrong and she is very ashamed,” he added.
Janet Mello betrayed the trust of the government agency she served and lied repeatedly in an attempt to enrich herself.”
US Attorney Jaime Esparza
Janet’s friend and co-worker, Denise Faison, defended her in a letter to the judge, saying she was a “good, kind, caring and loving person.”
“Janet has so much more to offer the world. Please allow her to pay her debt to society by returning what she took, but without staying behind prison bars,” Faison added.
Janet’s legal team does not intend to appeal the 15-year sentence.
The US Sun reached out to Janet Mello’s legal team and prosecutors.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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