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Greedy Guard Soldier Pleads Guilty in Bribery Scheme
Specialist Stephanie Heller, 37, of Wharton, Texas, has pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy charges in connection with a wide-ranging bribery and fraud scheme that caused approximately $54,000 in losses to the Army National Guard Bureau.
According to court documents, Heller enlisted in the Army National Guard in approximately July 2008 and between August 2009 and April 2011, she agreed to pay two Army National Guard recruiters for the names and Social Security numbers of at least 28 potential Army National Guard soldiers.
Heller used the personal identifying information for these potential soldiers to claim that she was responsible for referring them to join the Army National Guard, when in fact she had not referred them. As a result of these fraudulent representations, Heller collected at least approximately $44,500 in fraudulent recruiting bonus payments.
The case is one of nine individuals charged in the investigation, with Heller being the latest to plead guilty. The other eight individuals have all pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme.
The Army National Guard Bureau entered into a contract with Document and Packaging Broker Inc. to administer a recruiting program designed to offer monetary incentives to soldiers who referred others to join the Army National Guard. Through this program, a participating soldier could receive up to $2,000 in bonus payments for every person they referred.
Heller’s sentencing has been scheduled for March 1, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio. The charge of bribery carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the monetary 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.
RELATED: Grimy Times: Former Soldiers Plead Guilty to Conspiracy
RELATED: Fraudster Soldiers Reap $244K in Fake Referral Bonuses
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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