Millionaire conwoman, 57, from San Antonio, Texas, is accused of bilking US Army out of over $100 MILLION by stealing over six years to live a life of opulence and luxury

Janet Yamanaka Mello is charged with five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in a monetary transaction over $10,000 using criminally derived proceeds, and one count of aggravated identity theft. 

Cash from military youth programs allegedly, was stolen to finance life of expensive homes, global travel and luxury cars, properties and vacations by the suspect

Mello acquired 31 homes worth up to $4M each, 80 supercars including Aston Martins and Ferraris, Maseratis and luxury globetrotting trips

She allegedly made a shell company used to collect money from youth programs, damning court docs claim that Mello forged her boss’s signature multiple times

The firm, CHYLD, which was meant to help the children of army personnel, allegedly never did, instead, it received dozens of unmonitored monetary grants – worth over $100,000,000 – in six years

Federal prosecutors allege she lived a life of luxury and opulence clearly not supported by her $130,000 PA govt salary

She faces up to 20 years in prison for each fraud charge, 10 years for each spending change, mandatory minimum of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charge, if convicted 

Mello remains free during trial, after the judge gave personal recognizance bond

Janet Yamanaka Mello, [photo], 57, is accused of taking military funds and spending millions of dollars on bling, clothing, luxury vehicles, and real estate in one of the biggest fraud cases the army has ever dealt with

A brazen conwoman from San Antonio, Texas has been charged with the US Army out of $100million over six years by putting cash into her fake military youth business and splurging it on 31 homes, some worth millions apiece. Millionaire US Army employee Janet Yamanaka Mello also acquired more than 80 supercars and motorbikes with the ill-gotten wealth.
Mello, 57, who worked for the US Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas as a CYS Financial Program Manager, allegedly took military funds and spent millions of dollars on jewelry, clothing, luxury vehicles and real estate in one of the biggest fraud cases the military has ever dealt with.
In 2016, she allegedly created a shell company, Child Health and Youth Lifelong Development, which she turned into a vehicle for bilking the institution of monies meant for the 4-H military partnership grant.
The firm, CHYLD, which was meant to help the children of army personnel, allegedly never did. Instead, it received and frittered away dozens of unsupervised monetary grants, for six years.

Proceeds of fraud: Mello regularly filed fraudulent paperwork and deposited grants a total of 40 times into her fake business during a six-year period, securing over $100,000,000 for herself, court documents allege, including this $3.1million property in Preston, Maryland

Mello’s vast real estate holdings include this $2.3million estate in Castle Rock, Colorado 

Mello’s $1.1million home in San Antonio, Texas was listed as one of the properties up for seizure

Mello had amassed a portfolio of homes in Texas, Maryland, Colorado, Washington, and New Mexico – all of which, the prosecutors claim, she bought with the loot, among them this home in Lakewood, Colorado allegedly, worth $870,000

Transaction details show Mello allegedly wire transferred $264,874 from the account to buy herself the Land Rover Range Rover in 2023

Now, Mello has nearly 80 vehicles and 31 properties across five states up for forfeiture – as federal prosecutors allege she lived a life of luxury and opulence that was clearly not supported by her $130,000 a year government salary.
She reported that her company CHYLD earned a profit of $483 on revenue of $2,152 for training consultations in 2017. But since then, she has not filed any tax returns. 
Mello who regularly filed fraudulent paperwork, court documents allege, deposited grants into her fake business 40 times, ultimately securing over $100,000,000 for herself.
Transaction details show she allegedly wire transferred $264,874 from the account to buy herself a luxury Range Rover last year.
She also sent herself $3,308,157 to purchase real estate property in Canyon Lake, Texas, documents state. 
Now, Mello has nearly 80 vehicles and and real estate portfolio with 31 properties across five states, that have been listed for forfeiture. Federal prosecutors allege the suspect lived a life of luxury and opulence that was clearly not supported by her $130,000 a year government salary.

Mello worked for the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas as a CYS Financial Program Manager – where she was able to allegedly move money into her shell company 

Janet Mello reported that her company CHYLD earned a profit of $483 on revenue of $2,152 for training consultations in 2017. However, she has since not filed any tax returns. 
She’s accused of regularly submitting fraudulent paperwork that indicated an entity she controlled was entitled to receive funds from the Army to obtain grants that she deposited grants into her fake business, 40 times, securing over $100,000,000 for herself in the process, Department Of Justice documents allege
Transaction details show she allegedly wire transferred $264,874 from the account to buy herself a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover last year.
She also sent herself $3,308,157 to purchase real estate property in Canyon Lake, Texas, documents state.

The 2003 Aston Martin Vanquish is only one of several Aston’s in the collector’s vast auto fleet

The court has listed a total of 78 luxury cars and motorbikes that Mello owns – and has demanded the assets in a bill of forfeiture. Her auto collection includes multiple Maserati, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes Benz, Tesla, Harley-Davidson, and Land Rover brand vehicles as well as classic autos. 
As well as vehicular assets, Mello had amassed a portfolio of homes in Texas, Maryland, Colorado, Washington, and New Mexico that prosecutors claim, she bought with the fraudulently obtained cash. 
Feds have listed 31 pieces of real estate across multiple states – mansions some worth over $3 million, ranches, sprawling acres of farmland, and luxury high-rise condos.

Mello’s love for expensive mobile toys encompassed powerful classic and modern motorbikes, including Harley Davidson’s and this  1955 Ferrari Fratelli

Iconic 1966 Ford Mustang found in the collection

Avid auto collector: Alleged scamster Janet Mello has a 1935 Plymouth Sedan, in her collection as well

According to court docs, Mello has a 2018 Gran Turismo among her Maseratis in her collection, part of the assets listed for seizure

The court documents state that Mello operates six bank accounts, each holding a minimum of  $32,000. 
Ultimately she was upended when the IRS flagged her lifestyle, which includes buying million-dollar homes multiple times a year, is not supported by her reported salary. 
A joint operation by IRS and army investigators made the findings enabling Mello’s criminal indictment in December 2023. 

Mello’s taste buds did not stop with her love for real estate and autos. She also indulged her love for expensive jewelry

The US Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas on December 6 announced that the federal grand jury in San Antonio charged Mello with 10 counts ,
‘Mello claimed that CHYLD provided services to military members and their families, when, in reality, CHYLD did not provide any services,’ the statement read. 
‘The indictment alleges that Mello instead used the funds to buy millions of dollars in jewelry, clothing, vehicles, and real estate. Additionally, Mello is alleged to have falsified the digital signature of one of her supervisors on multiple occasions.’ 
Mello is charged with five counts of mail fraud, four counts of engaging in a monetary transaction over $10,000 using criminally derived proceeds, and one count of aggravated identity theft. 
The San Antonio woman is facing up to 20 years in prison for each fraud charge, 10 years for each spending change, and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charge.