WFAA

Mello was charged with five counts for mail fraud, four counts for filing a false tax return, and one count for aggravated identity theft.

Mello performed a scheme while working at Fort Sam Houston by submitting false papers that the money was benefitting military members and their families. The grant program for military families would issue the check to Mello and she would sign them and keep the money. 

Records show Mello repeated the process 49 times during a six-year period, requesting approximately $117,000,000 in payments, and receiving approximately $108,917,749.

Officials say she used the money to buy millions of dollars in jewelry, clothes, vehicles, and real estate. 

“Janet Mello betrayed the trust of the government agency she served and repeatedly lied in an effort to enrich herself,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “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."

Mello was indicted in December to take a plea deal in March.