SAN ANTONIO – A retired Air Force brigadier general was sentenced today in federal court in San Antonio to 12 months and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for wire fraud and filing false tax returns. was
After retiring from active duty in 2012, Spring Branch’s Scott A. Bethel, 59, began working as a government contractor and Air Force consultant, according to court documents. He tended to do work at the same time as he did for contract employers. Bethel has sought hotel refunds from both employers and the government. Bethel also submitted bogus hotel bills if you stayed with a personal acquaintance instead of the hotel. In total, Bethel received about $15,140.50 from the Air Force, which he did not qualify for.
An examination of Bethel’s work laptop revealed that he had falsified charitable deductions and business expenses from 2015 to 2019, resulting in approximately $139,687.00 in government tax losses.
In addition to the prison sentence, Bethel was ordered to pay $154,827.50 in damages.
“Our commitment to upholding the rule of law and upholding the public trust is unwavering,” said Jaime Esparza, U.S. Attorney for the West District of Texas. , will ruthlessly prosecute anyone, regardless of position or background, who abuses their position for personal gain and undermines the integrity of the financial system.”
“Today, the decision of retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Scott Allen Bethel is a reminder that those in positions of authority and trust are expected to uphold higher standards of integrity and accountability. said IRS special agent Ramsey E. Covington. Criminal Investigative Service Houston office. “Bethel’s fraudulent practices of forging invoices, claiming false deductions, and seeking to involve others in criminal activity have not only undermined his illustrious career, but also undermined the very foundations of our tax and government systems. We enforce the law, are committed to ensuring that individuals regardless of rank or position are accountable for their actions, and work with our law enforcement partners to promote justice and fairness. maintain the value of
The IRS-CI, the Inspector General’s Office of General Services Administration, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Harris and Special Assistant Jay Pollyer prosecuted the case.
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