Arkansas Duo Nabbed in $53K Fort Chaffee Scam

FORT SMITH, AR – A brazen scheme to siphon government funds from Fort Chaffee landed an Arkansas mother and daughter in federal prison this week. Amanda Komp, 39, and her mother, Tammy McCullough, 58, were sentenced to four and three years respectively after admitting to a two-year fraud that cost taxpayers $53,000. The pair exploited Komp’s position as Housing Manager at the military base to line their pockets.

Komp, responsible for managing the Fort Chaffee billeting fund account at Regions Bank, began issuing checks to her mother’s company, Triple M Enterprises, in December 2017. The supposed purpose? Furniture moving services. But investigators quickly discovered the services were a complete fabrication. Sixty-eight checks, totaling $53,000, were cashed for work that was never performed, a blatant theft of government resources.

The scam was meticulously crafted, but ultimately unraveled. Komp forged signatures on purchase requests and checks, attempting to bypass internal controls that required approval from the Fort Chaffee Lodging Advisory Council. She thought she could get away with it. She was wrong. The feds didn’t buy the bogus invoices claiming Triple M Enterprises had actually moved furniture – they traced the money directly back to McCullough.

Federal prosecutors revealed Komp held the Housing Manager position from 2014 until September 2019, giving her ample opportunity to abuse her authority. The billeting fund, designed to maintain and operate Fort Chaffee, became a personal piggy bank. The scheme continued for nearly two years before the FBI launched an investigation, uncovering the extent of the deceit.

Judge P.K. Holmes, III, presiding over the case in U.S. District Court, ordered both women to pay $53,000 in restitution – meaning they’ll have to repay the stolen funds while serving their sentences. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas announced the sentencing, emphasizing the commitment of his office to prosecuting those who exploit public trust.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elser and Bryan Achorn built the case, presenting irrefutable evidence of the fraud. This isn’t just about money; it’s about accountability. The feds send a clear message: abusing a position of trust and stealing from the government will be met with serious consequences. The pair now have plenty of time to reflect on that lesson from behind bars.”