San Diego : 4 Indicted for Filing False Travel Claims

A former civilian employee at the Naval Training Center in San Diego was among four people indicted Wednesday for allegedly filing phony claims for travel expenses totaling more than $70,000.

Each defendant is accused of conspiring to defraud the government and theft of government property. Carlos Alberto Rios, 39, also was indicted on charges of falsifying records and filing false claims while employed as a clerk by the U.S. Navy.

Federal prosecutors contend Rios submitted fraudulent travel separation claims, which individuals submit for expense money to return home after completing their military service.

Rios allegedly turned in such claims in the names of his co-defendants and others over a two-year period that began in January, 1990. The recipients cashed more than $70,000 worth of checks they received based on the phony claims that were submitted, Assistant U.S. Atty. Jane Hahn said.

The indictment alleges that the defendants recruited social acquaintances to participate. A probe by the Naval Investigative Service found as many as 11 other people were involved in the scheme, including four who already have pleaded guilty to charges of stealing government property, Hahn said.

Also named in the 149-count indictment were Eliezer Pacheco, 34, Maria Isaura Velasquez, 35, and Carlos Ramos, 26, all of San Diego. None of them worked for the military.

Each charge against Rios for filing a fraudulent claim carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. All of the other charges are punishable by 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine apiece.