Fraud Suspect May Face Court-Martial

An Air National Guard major accused of fraud could face a court-martial, while a related case against a civilian employee will be handled by the Ventura County district attorney, military officials said Friday.

Brig. Gen. John Iffland, commander of the Channel Islands Air National Guard base, said the charges against Maj. Glenn Yurgil will be heard by a military jury in July to determine if he will face a court-martial.

The charges against the civilian employee, Robert Sheehan, continue to be investigated by the FBI and will likely be forwarded to the district attorney when completed, Iffland said.

Both men were arrested Wednesday and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States after months of investigation by the FBI, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Air National Guard personnel. They were released Thursday from Ventura County Jail.

Iffland would not comment on the specific charges against the pair.

“This is reasonably serious,” said Iffland. “It is not a capital crime, but any time someone attempts to defraud the government, we treat it as a serious matter.”

Iffland said he had not reviewed a sexual harassment allegation made against Yurgil by a female employee but that all charges pending against him would be reviewed in the military hearing.

Yurgil, who had been stationed at the base for two years, has been transferred to another unspecified base. Sheehan has been on disability leave for months, said Iffland.

If Yurgil is referred to a court-martial and is found guilty, he could face penalties ranging from fines to prison time, and less than honorable discharge from the military.