“`html
Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
- An Army contractor and his partner misappropriated government funds for multiple personal vacations, according to prosecutors.
- They made 31 trips to Orlando, where they enjoyed leisure activities at the pool and visited Disney parks, as stated by the DOJ.
- A judge previously mandated one of them to repay nearly half a million dollars in restitution.
Federal prosecutors have revealed that an Army contractor and his girlfriend exploited government resources to fund personal getaways across the nation, including 31 excursions to Orlando.
On October 2, federal judge sentenced Chantelle Boyd, aged 53, to six months of home confinement followed by two years of supervised release. This ruling came four years after her arrest alongside her partner Thomas Bouchard, who is 61 years old.
The duo was found guilty of “conspiring to defraud the government out of thousands of dollars” from 2014 through 2018 as per statements from the Justice Department.
While Boyd’s restitution amount is yet to be determined on a later date, Bouchard received a sentence in August comprising one year and one day in prison along with an additional year under supervised release. The court ordered him to pay back $487,658.87.
Bouchard held a supervisory role within the US Army Natick Contracting Division located in Massachusetts—a contracting service for the Defense Department. He allegedly leveraged his position to secure Boyd’s employment for what was described as a “no-show job” as an assistant by prosecutors.
“Bouchard and Boyd undertook numerous trips funded by government resources that lasted anywhere from two days up to two weeks under false pretenses that they were work-related,” noted officials from the Justice Department.
Their travels included extensive stays in Orlando where it was reported that Boyd “performed little if any work.” Prosecutors indicated that her position cost taxpayers nearly $500,000 overall due to these fraudulent activities.
“During many trips taken together, Bouchard and Boyd shared hotel accommodations while spending their time enjoying pools and visiting Disney parks—all during standard business hours,” federal prosecutors elaborated further on their misconduct.
The indictment also highlighted additional travel destinations including Maryland, Virginia, Alabama, and Clearwater Beach in Florida for both individuals involved.
No representatives from either Boyd or Bouchard’s legal teams responded when approached for comments by Business Insider. The Defense Department directed inquiries back toward the US Army regarding this case.
Source
“`
