A Louisiana man is the latest former U.S. Army reservist to plead guilty in a fraud scheme that scammed the Army out of more than $100,000, federal prosecutors said.
He is one of seven defendants charged in January 2021 in connection with lying about performing honors ceremonies at military funerals, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The man sought reimbursement for purported military honors ceremonies that he never performed between November 2013 and August 2016 — and stole $11,378.27, court documents show. At the time, he was stationed as a corporal at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.
A staff sergeant, who is a co-defendant in the case and worked at the base as an Army pay technician, submitted fraudulent payment requests for the man, according to court documents.
Now, the man has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a Sept. 29 news release.
He’s agreed to repay the Army the same amount prosecutors said he stole as part of his plea agreement. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2025, according to prosecutors.
The man’s defense attorney didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Sept. 30.
For active-duty soldiers, retired service members and veterans who have died, families can request military funeral honors, such as the folding of the U.S. flag, to be performed during services, prosecutors said.
The staff sergeant who submitted the man’s fraudulent requests for reimbursement also submitted payment requests for himself and five other former Army reservists for military funeral honors that never happened, according to the indictment.
He was accused of stealing $18,825.83 for himself, the indictment shows.
He pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment — conspiracy to commit theft of government funds — in October 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5, according to court records.
Four other defendants pleaded guilty to the same charge and have been sentenced to terms of probation, court records show. They were also ordered to pay restitution as part of their sentences.
Two of these defendants worked for the New Orleans Police Department when they were indicted, according to prosecutors.
A jury trial is set for Feb. 24 for a seventh former Army reservist who previously pleaded not guilty to all counts against him, according to court records.
He’s accused of stealing $13,585.92 from the Army, the indictment says.
The man and his defense attorney, Rachel I. Conner, declined McClatchy News’ request for comment Sept. 30.
Attorneys representing the other defendants didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ requests for comment Sept. 30.
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