Early in the morning on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, federal agents served a warrant on the East Garrison home of Zelene Charles and her partner, Jennifer Amorin. It marked the beginning of a federal criminal case against Charles, who was indicted in May of 2024 and then in July pleaded guilty to defrauding the United States government.
It also marked a new chapter for Charles, who wrote in a January letter to United States District Judge Edward Davila: “I no longer had to hide from this secret I was carrying. I know that if I want to live a blessed life, I must confront my past and right my wrongs.”
Charles is asking Davila for a probation-only sentence with no prison time. Federal prosecutors are asking the judge to impose a 27-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release and $630,628 in restitution.
Charles, who had previously served for 10 years in the military, worked as a civilian employee at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey from 2010 to 2019 where she was responsible for IT supplies. She created fake invoices, using Department of Defense accounts to buy items that were never actually purchased by the DoD, and instead paid to at least 78 different account names she personally accessed, in 185 transactions, such as a purchase of $9,942 for 250 MacBook cases, according to court records.
“DLI is currently experiencing a shortfall of 386 MacBook Pros that should have been replaced in fiscal year 2025, but due to Charles’ actions, DLI no longer has funds to obtain the equipment,” according to prosecutors.
Charles’ attorney, Irvine-based Diane Bass, argues for a more lenient sentence: “Ms. Charles is an extraordinary human being with a heart the size of California. Unfortunately, she exercised extremely poor judgment and engaged in an inexcusable course of conduct while employed at a job she loved, that she was great at.”
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 3 at the federal courthouse in San Jose.
(1) comment
After using the U.S. taxpayers as her pet piggy bank for 19 years, a setence of restitution and 2 years imprisonment appears quite lenient.
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