Ex-Army Officers Arraigned on Charges of Allegedly Stealing Over $2.7 Million in Defense Funds

May 8, 2012

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on May 8, 2012 released the following:

Officers Allegedly Stole Government Funds While on Military Duty in Saudi Arabia

ATLANTA— Jasen Minter, 41, of Fayetteville, Georgia, was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Linda T. Walker on federal charges of conspiracy and theft of more than $2,700,000 from the U.S. government while serving as an Army captain in Saudi Arabia. Minter is charged in a federal indictment along with Louis E. Nock, 45, of Orlando, Florida, who served as a senior non-commissioned officer with Minter in Saudi Arabia. Nock was arraigned on the same charges yesterday before Judge Walker. Both defendants were released on bond.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “Military officers carry heightened responsibilities to their fellow servicemen as well as the public, including the duty to be diligent and honest with every taxpayer dollar. The Army’s mission in Iraq is simply too important for its own officers to steal critical resources from their fellow servicemen and, as alleged in this case, line their own pockets with cash.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2006, then-Captain Minter and Sergeant First Class Nock were finance officers assigned to the U.S. Military Training Mission (USMTM) in Saudi Arabia. The indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on May 1, 2012, alleges that, while serving in Saudi Arabia, Minter and Nock embezzled over $2,700,000 from a U.S. government bank account at the Saudi Arabia American Bank (SAMBA) in Riyadh. Funds in this government account were to be used to operate the USMTM finance office, which supports U.S. troops. The indictment alleges that Minter and Nock conspired to withdraw the $2.7 million in two transactions but never delivered the monies to the finance office. Instead, they shipped it back to the United States to fund luxurious lifestyles for themselves and their families.

The charges carry a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison on the conspiracy count, 10 years in prison on each count of theft, and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by special agents of the Army Criminal Investigation Command, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney David Leta is prosecuting the case.”

US v. Jasen Minter et al

18 U.S.C. § 371

18 U.S.C. § 641

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Douglas McNabb – McNabb Associates, P.C.’s
Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys Videos:

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To find additional federal criminal news, please read Federal Criminal Defense Daily.

Douglas McNabb and other members of the U.S. law firm practice and write and/or report extensively on matters involving Federal Criminal Defense, INTERPOL Red Notice Removal, International Extradition Defense, OFAC SDN Sanctions Removal, International Criminal Court Defense, and US Seizure of Non-Resident, Foreign-Owned Assets. Because we have experience dealing with INTERPOL, our firm understands the inter-relationship that INTERPOL’s “Red Notice” brings to this equation.

The author of this blog is Douglas C. McNabb. Please feel free to contact him directly at mcnabb@mcnabbassociates.com or at one of the offices listed above.


Mount Pleasant Man Charged with Allegedly Committing Federal Grant Fraud; Charged with His Wife in an Alleged Campaign Finance Fraud

September 20, 2011

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on September 19, 2011 released the following:

“United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that two indictments previously returned by a federal grand jury were unsealed today. A 36-count indictment charges that Mount Pleasant native Jian-Yun Dong and one of his companies, Vaxima, Inc., committed a number of offenses relating to the fraudulent use and conversion of funds received as federal grants. The indictment charges that the defendants submitted false claims for payment of federal grant monies and that they used grant funds received for scientific research for prohibited purposes. Specifically, this indictment charges that Dong, as the president and chief executive officer of GenPhar, Inc, (1) submitted false claims to federal agencies in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 287; (2) converted grant funds to his own use in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 641 and 666; and (3) committed wire fraud, in that he used interstate communications to execute a scheme to defraud the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. The indictment also charges that Defendant Vaxima, Inc, a corporation owned solely by Dong, assisted in the execution of the scheme.

The second indictment charges Dong (54) and his estranged wife, Danher Wang (52) with violations of federal campaign laws. The seven-count indictment charges that Dong and Wang conspired to make illegal campaign contributions in the names of other persons using money from a foreign national, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. The indictment further alleges in other counts that Dong and Wang made or caused others to make illegal contributions after they (Dong and Wang) exceeded their maximum contribution allowance, in violation of Title 2, United States Code, Sections 437(g)(1)(D)(I) and 441f. According to the indictment, contributions were made in a way to conceal their true origin from the FEC, campaigns and the public. Finally, the indictment alleges that Dong made false statements to law enforcement agents (in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001) and that Dong attempted to illegally influence the testimony of a witness in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512.

As to the grant fraud indictment, the maximum sentences Dong faces for wire fraud regarding the misuse of federal grant funds is 30 years’ imprisonment as to each count, with a maximum fine of $250,000 per count. Dong faces sentences of up to 10 years for the other charges contained in this indictment. Both Dong and Wang face maximum sentences of five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for each count of campaign finance fraud, and Dong faces an additional maximum sentence of 20 years as to the witness tampering charges in the first indictment.

These companion cases were investigated by agents of the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark C. Moore and Debbie Barbier of the Columbia office.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”

To find additional federal criminal news, please read Federal Crimes Watch Daily.

Douglas McNabb and other members of the U.S. law firm practice and write and/or report extensively on matters involving Federal Criminal Defense, INTERPOL Red Notice Removal, International Extradition and OFAC SDN Sanctions Removal.

The author of this blog is Douglas McNabb. Please feel free to contact him directly at mcnabb@mcnabbassociates.com or at one of the offices listed above.

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