Life isn’t so magical anymore.
An Military contractor and his girlfriend defrauded the federal government of almost $500,000 to take dozens of lavish holidays to Walt Disney World whereas claiming they have been touring for work.
Thomas Bouchard, 61, used his authorities connections to get his girlfriend, Cantelle Boyd, 53, employed for a “no-show” job as his assistant so they might take quite a few holidays — together with 31 journeys to Disney World in Orlando in Orlando, Fla. — they claimed have been work-related, based on the US Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Massachusetts.
The frilly scheme price the Division of Protection greater than $490,000, prosecutors stated.
Bouchard, who was in control of the US Military Natick Contracting Division in Massachusetts, used his “long-standing relationship” with authorities contractor Evolution Enterprise Inc., to have Boyd employed as an assistant to help him.
Boyd was paid a authorities wage of $487,658 and carried out “little if any helpful operate” from 2014 to 2018, costing the federal government an additional $75,583 in journey bills, prosecutors stated.
The couple booked holidays starting from two to fifteen days below the guise they have been work-related, and their travels — which have been performed throughout enterprise hours — included staying at lodges, lounging by the pool and visiting Disney parks.
Along with Disney, the couple additionally traveled to Virginia and different Florida areas.
Prosecutors stated Bouchard hid the character of their journeys and sought reimbursement by falsifying after which approving expense information.
Federal authorities arrested the couple in July 2020, and so they every pleaded responsible to at least one depend of conspiracy and 10 counts of theft of presidency funds and false declarations.
Bouchard was sentenced on Aug. 5 to at least one yr and someday in jail and is required to pay $487,658 in restitution.
“These of us who’re privileged to work in public service owe an obligation to the taxpayers to behave with integrity always,” Performing United States Lawyer Joshua S. Levy stated of Bouchard in a information launch.
“This defendant clearly failed in adhering to this solemn oath and abused his place of belief to line his personal pockets, rent a pal right into a phantom place and revel in junkets all on the taxpayer’s dime. He’ll now pay the worth for his inexcusable conduct.”
Boyd was sentenced to 6 months of house confinement on Oct. 2.
Prosecutors — who beneficial a six-month jail sentence — stated Boyd is required to pay restitution “at a later date.”
