A woman who is accused of defrauding the U.S. Army out of $100 million has been granted a full civil servant retirement package, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Janet Yamanaka Mello , 57, a former civilian financial program manager at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, who remains under criminal investigation, claims she “earned” her full retirement benefits, despite being accused of using funds illegally obtained from the U.S. Army to purchase more than 30 homes, cars and jewelry during a scheme that lasted seven years. An Army spokesperson confirmed that the branch cannot withhold Mello’s benefits from her as they are protected under a federal law.
“The command has no authority to impact Ms. Mello’s retirement,” an Army spokesperson told the San Antonio Express-News . “In accordance with 5 U.S. Code Section 8312, an individual may be denied an annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual, if the individual is convicted of treason, rebellion or insurrection, or other similar offenses. There is no similar statutory authority for denying retired pay based on a conviction of other offenses.”