Stephanie Heller, Bribery and Conspiracy to Commit Bribery and Wire Fraud, Texas 2011

Grimy Times has uncovered a shocking case of corruption within the Army National Guard. Specialist Stephanie Heller, 37, of Wharton, Texas, has pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud.

Heller’s scheme, which occurred between August 2009 and April 2011, resulted in losses of approximately $54,000 to the Army National Guard Bureau. The defendant used the personal identifying information of at least 28 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.

Heller collected at least approximately $44,500 in fraudulent recruiting bonus payments, approximately $21,000 of which she gave to the two Army National Guard recruiters who facilitated the fraudulent scheme.

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.

Heller’s sentencing has been scheduled for March 1, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Fred Biery in San Antonio.

The case against Heller is part of a larger investigation into a wide-ranging bribery and fraud scheme that has led to charges against nine individuals, all of whom have pleaded guilty.

The Justice Department’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of agents from the San Antonio Fraud Resident Agency of the Major Procurement Fraud Unit, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced the plea, citing the seriousness of the offense and the need for accountability.

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