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Defendants Caught in Web of Corruption
HOUSTON, TEXAS – In a shocking revelation, two current US Army National Guard soldiers have pleaded guilty to their role in bribery and fraud schemes that have caused a total of at least $70,000 in losses to the US Army National Guard Bureau.
According to court documents, Annika Chambers, 28, of Houston, and Elisha Ceja, 27, of Barboursville, W.V., have admitted to paying Army National Guard recruiters for the names and Social Security numbers of potential Army National Guard soldiers.
The defendants then used the personal identifying information to falsely claim that they were responsible for referring the potential soldiers to join the Army National Guard, resulting in Chambers collecting approximately $17,000 in fraudulent bonuses and Ceja collecting approximately $12,000 in fraudulent bonuses.
The charge of bribery carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss. The charge of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss.
The cases are being investigated by Special Agents from the San Antonio Fraud Resident Agency of Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pearson and Trial Attorneys Sean F. Mulryne, Mark J. Cipolletti, and Heidi Boutros Gesch of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman made the announcement, highlighting the ongoing corruption investigation that has led to charges against 25 individuals, with 16 having pleaded guilty to date.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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