United States Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of Virginia
Chuck Rosenberg - United States Attorney

ALEXANDRIA     NEWPORT NEWS      NORFOLK      RICHMOND

October 27, 2006

Further Information Contact:
Deanna Warren
Phone: (757) 441-6331

Army Staff Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Submitting Fraudulent Reimbursement Requests

(Newport News, VA) – Jacqulyn Lynette Allen, age 39, of Newport News, Virginia, pled guilty today to one count of wire fraud for her actions in submitting fraudulent reimbursement vouchers to the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, also announced that sentencing has been scheduled for January 16, 2007, before United States District Judge Walter D. Kelley, Jr. She faces 20 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and has already agreed to pay full restitution to DFAS.

According to court documents, Allen was a Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Eustis Army Base, Fort Eustis, Virginia, as a Moment Specialist. In that capacity, she helped coordinate the paperwork associated with Temporary Duty (TDY) trips taken by herself and other personnel. From August 6, 2003 through September 7, 2004, Allen submitted fraudulent TDY forms requesting reimbursement of expenses including lodging, meals, and other incidentals that the defendant did not incur. In support of these fraudulent submissions, Allen copied valid hotel receipts from other soldiers’ travel vouchers and altered the receipts to use as her own. She also forged the signatures of her supervisor and approving officer on those forms.

Allen sent the fraudulent TDY forms to DFAS in Indianapolis for payment. Acting in accordance with Allen’s instructions, DFAS wire transferred stolen funds to her personal checking account and a government travel credit card account. Through her false submissions, Allen stole approximately $117,229.00 from DFAS.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Gill prosecuted the case for the United States.