Army Contractor and Girlfriend Misuse Government Funds for Personal Vacations

An Army contractor and his girlfriend misappropriated government funds to finance personal vacations across the country, with a particular focus on Orlando, according to federal prosecutors.

Legal Action and Sentencing

In October, a federal judge sentenced Chantelle Boyd, 53, to six months of home confinement and two years of supervised release for their involvement in the scheme. Boyd and her partner, Thomas Bouchard, 61, were arrested in 2020 and found guilty of conspiring to defraud the government between 2014 and 2018.

While Boyd's restitution amount is pending determination on a separate date, Bouchard was sentenced in August to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. Additionally, Bouchard was ordered to pay back $487,658.87.

Abuse of Position and Government Funds

Bouchard, who oversaw the US Army Natick Contracting Division in Massachusetts, facilitated Boyd's employment as an assistant in a "no-show job" within the Defense Department. The couple exploited their positions to justify multiple government-funded trips, falsely claiming they were work-related.

Among their travels, the pair took 31 trips to Orlando, where Boyd allegedly did minimal work. The cost of Boyd's position to the Defense Department amounted to nearly $500,000. During these trips, Bouchard and Boyd would share a hotel room, frequent the pool and Disney parks, all during business hours.

In addition to Orlando, Boyd also visited Maryland, Virginia, Alabama, and Clearwater, Florida, as part of the scheme.

No Comment from Involved Parties

Despite attempts to reach out for comments, representatives for Boyd, Bouchard, the US Army Natick Contracting Division, and the US Attorney's Office District of Massachusetts did not respond to requests from Business Insider. The Defense Department directed inquiries to the US Army.

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By: ledmonds@businessinsider.com (Lauren Edmonds)
Title: Army Contractor and Girlfriend Misuse Government Funds for Personal Vacations
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/army-contractor-fraud-vacation-disney-world-government-funds-doj-says-2024-10
Published Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2024 18:02:41 +0000