Former US Army Civilian Employee Sentenced to 15 Years for Stealing Nearly $109 Million

Janet Yamanaka Mello (L), an ex-civilian employee of the U.S. Army convicted of stealing $109 million from a youth development program for children of military families, and her husband Mark Mello walk into the federal courthouse in San Antonio, Texas, on July 23, 2024. Christopher Lee/The San Antonio Express-News via AP

A Texas woman who pleaded guilty to charges of stealing nearly $109 million from a youth development program for children of military families and using it to fund an extravagant lifestyle that included multiple mansions, a fleet of luxury cars, and designer accessories was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in federal prison.

Janet Yamanaka Mello, 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez after pleading guilty in March to five counts of mail fraud and five counts of filing a false tax return.