Officers
Allegedly Stole Government Funds While on Military Duty in Saudi Arabia
ATLANTA—Jasen Minter, 41, of
Fayetteville, Georgia, was arraigned today before United States Magistrate
Linda T. Walker on federal charges of conspiracy and theft of more than
$2,700,000 from the U.S. government while serving as an Army captain in Saudi
Arabia. Minter is charged in a federal indictment along with Louis E. Nock, 45,
of Orlando, Florida, who served as a senior non-commissioned officer with
Minter in Saudi Arabia. Nock was arraigned on the same charges yesterday before
Judge Walker. Both defendants were released on bond.
United States Attorney Sally Quillian
Yates said of the case, “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. 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.”
According to United States Attorney
Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2006,
then-Captain Minter and Sergeant 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, 2012, alleges
that, while serving in Saudi Arabia, Minter and Nock embezzled over $2,700,000
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.
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, the court will consider the United States Sentencing
Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for
most offenders.
Members of the public are reminded that
the indictment only contains 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.
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.
Assistant United States Attorney David
Leta is prosecuting the case.
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