MORE information on 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 scamming over $108 million from a grant program intended for military dependents. Janet was nicknamed the Gucci Goddess for her love of extravagance and luxury .
According to court documents , her first lavish purchase was a fourteen-acre lot and a five-acre lot in Verde Mountain Estates, Texas . Janet and her husband, Mark, paid around $404,000 cash for the two properties. They then purchased a four-bedroom home in a gated neighborhood for $678,000.
Read more on scams As the scam continued, the value of their properties increased. The Mellos purchased a stunning Colorado home for $2.3 million in cash and two adjoining properties in Canyon Lake, Texas for a whopping total of $3.
3 million. Their last real estate purchase was a mansion in Maryland for $3.1 million, totaling their real estate portfolio to a jaw-dropping $23 million.
They purchased a slew of vehicles including multiple vintage motorcycles, several Rovers, a Chevrolet Corvette, a Maserati, and a Mercedes Benz. Most read in The US Sun The Gucci Goddess and her accomplice purchased at least 82 vehicles, worth an approximate total of $3.5 million.
Janet also spent over $923,000 on designer jewelry including bracelets, gaudy broaches, rings, and watches. THE SCHEME Janet illegally pocketed the cash 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 service members while they were stationed outside of the US, according to court documents .
"She did this by betraying the credibility and trust she had accumulated through many years as a civilian Army employee," court documents read. Janet worked as a civilian financial program manager and helped military families apply for grants. Janet Mello and her husband spent $108 million on luxury goods and real estate after running an illegal fraud scheme.
The full list of their purchases are inlcuded below, Verde Mountain Trail in San Antonio estates: $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: $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 sending the proposal to the Defense Financial Accounting Service. Janet made up a business called Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development to funnel the money. She would either forge her supervisor's signature on the necessary proposals needed to secure the cash or lie about the intention of the funds.
Once the DFAS received her proposals, they sent the cash to a UPS Store mailbox in San Antonio which Janet rented. Court documents stated that she went through this fake proposal process over 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," US Attorney Jaime Esparza said in a press release .
"Rather than $109 million in federal funds going to the care of military children throughout the world, she selfishly stole that money to buy extravagant houses, more than 80 vehicles and over 1,500 pieces of jewelry." Janet's attorney, Albert Flores, said that she was "deeply remorseful." "She realizes she committed a crime, she did wrong and is very ashamed," he added.
Janet Mello betrayed the trust of the government agency she served and repeatedly lied in an effort to enrich herself," 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 repay her debt to society by returning what she has taken but not be behind prison bars," Faison added.
Read More on The US Sun Janet's legal team doesn't intend to appeal the 15-year sentence. The U.S.
Sun has reached out to Janet Mello's legal team and the prosecuting attorneys..
