A Fayetteville Army captain and an accomplice embezzled over $2.7 million in U.S. government funds to finance “luxurious lifestyles” for him and his Fayette family back home, according to U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.
Jasen Minter, 41, was arraigned in federal court May 8 on charges of conspiracy and theft of more than $2.7 million from the U.S. government while serving as an Army captain in Saudi Arabia, Yates said.
Also indicted on the same charges was 45-year-old Orlando, Fla., resident Louis E. Nock who served with Minter as a senior non-commissioned officer. Both defendants were released on bond, Yates said.
Yates said in 2006, then-Captain Minter and Sgt. 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 alleges that, while serving in Saudi Arabia, Minter and Nock embezzled over $2.7 million 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,” said Yates.
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, Yates said the court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
Yates also noted that the indictments only contain 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, Yates added.
“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,” said Yates. ”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.”
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.
