Texas Woman Sentenced to 15 Years for Stealing $109 Million from Military Youth Program

The 57-year-old civilian employee of the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Janet Yamanaka Mello, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a shocking crime. Mello was found guilty of stealing nearly $109 million from a youth development program aimed at children of military families.

Mello, who worked as a financial manager handling funding for the youth program, created a fraudulent organization called Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development. Through this fake entity, she applied for grants from the military program and illegally received millions of dollars over the course of six years.

Prosecutors revealed that Mello spent the stolen money on extravagant purchases, including real estate, high-end jewelry, and a collection of 82 vehicles that had not been operated in so long that they were found with dead batteries during a search warrant execution.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas expressed outrage at Mello’s actions, stating that she selfishly enriched herself at the expense of military children who were supposed to benefit from the funds. Defense attorney Albert Flores argued that Mello is remorseful and hopes to repay her debt to society by selling the items she bought with the stolen money.

Despite the defense’s plea for leniency, Mello was sentenced to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez. The prosecution emphasized Mello’s expertise and trust within the agency as factors that enabled her to commit such a large-scale theft.

The case serves as a reminder of the consequences of financial fraud and the importance of accountability in handling public funds. Mello’s actions have not only tarnished her reputation but also robbed deserving children of the support they were entitled to receive.