Arizona Guardsmen Cheated U.S., State Says
Arizona says 21 members of its Air National Guard who flew drone missions over Iraq and Afghanistan defrauded the country of $1.4 million.
The indictments accuse 21 members of the 214th Reconnaissance Group based in Tucson of submitting false records for temporary duty disbursements, which are paid to members of the military who must travel away from home to complete their duties.
Between 2007 and 2010, many of the accused allegedly took home more than $100,000 by saying they lived outside of Tucson, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said.
The indictments charge eight officers and 13 enlisted members of the 214th Reconnaissance Group, which was created in 2007 to fly MQ-1B Predator drone over Iraq and Afghanistan. Included among the accused is the group’s former commander, retired Col. Gregg Davies
“Some of these men and women received benefits in excess of 4 and 5-times their salaries in temporary duty entitlements,” Horne said. “Conversely, our brave men and women overseas were making pennies on the dollar compared to what this group was receiving while still going home to their families each night.”
More: Courthouse News Service