By Alexandra E. Petri
A Texas woman has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for stealing over $100 million from a youth development grant program aimed at children of military families. Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud and five counts of filing false tax returns.
U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez imposed the sentence, emphasizing the severity of Mello’s actions. She was employed as a financial manager for the 4-H Military Partnership Grant at Fort Sam Houston Base in San Antonio. Prosecutors revealed that between late 2016 and August 2023, Mello exploited her position by creating a fraudulent business, Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development, falsely claiming it provided services to military families.
Mello’s scheme included forging her supervisor’s digital signature to access grant funds. Once she received the checks, she deposited them into her account, using the stolen funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, which included buying high-end jewelry, luxury clothing, and a fleet of 82 vehicles. She and her husband acquired real estate worth $23 million across Texas, Colorado, and Maryland.
In total, Mello submitted 49 fraudulent applications, misappropriating nearly $109 million and committing tax fraud that resulted in a loss of over $31 million to the government.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza noted the profound impact of Mello’s actions, stating, “Rather than $109 million in federal funds going to the care of military children throughout the world, she selfishly stole that money.”
The investigation into Mello’s extravagant spending ultimately led to her downfall, highlighting the significant repercussions of financial crimes on vulnerable communities.
