Military Larceny, Wrongful Appropriation, Fraud Defense (UCMJ Articles 121-123a)

Including Military Travel Voucher and Entitlement Fraud Defense

Over their years of military law practice, civilian court-martial defense lawyers Richard V. Stevens and Frank J. Spinner have defended numerous military cases alleging larceny, wrongful appropriation and fraud, including alleged military travel voucher and entitlement fraud and uttering worthless checks.

Some of the more serious cases defended by civilian court-martial defense lawyer Richard V. Stevens have included:

• A military enlisted member accused of embezzling approximately one million dollars (case was ultimately dropped after fiercely contested investigation process).
• A military officer accused of larceny, wrongful appropriation and wire fraud for alleged six figure investment scheme (case was ultimately dropped in favor of administrative action on eve of court-martial trial).
• A military officer accused of larceny of $200.000.00+ military property from DRMS/DRMO/DLA (Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office, Defense Logistics Agency)(case was ultimately dropped in favor of administrative action prior to court-martial trial).
• Many military officers and NCOs accused of travel voucher and entitlement fraud due to pay and entitlement received while called up on active duty orders.

Some of the most common larceny, wrongful appropriation, or fraud scenarios faced by court-martial and military discipline clients of attorney Richard V. Stevens have included:

• Travel voucher fraud
• Embezzlement
• Wire fraud (investment schemes)
• Theft of military property
• Theft of money from military accounts/registers
• Theft from AAFES (BX, PX, NEX)
• Theft from military dorms/barracks or military housing
• Using others’ credit cards
• Passing bad checks

Allegations of larceny, wrongful appropriation and fraud under the UCMJ are covered by:

• Larceny [UCMJ Article 121]
• Wrongful Appropriation [UCMJ Article 121]
• Robbery [UCMJ Article 122]
• Forgery [UCMJ Article 123]
• Making, Drawing, or Uttering Check, Draft, or Order Without Sufficient Funds (Bad Checks, Worthless Checks, “Check Kiting”) [UCMJ Article 123a]

Travel Voucher Fraud: In recent years, attorney Richard V. Stevens has defended many military cases in which travel voucher and entitlement fraud was alleged. When the Global War on Terror began, the military service branches mobilized scores of their Reserve and National Guard members, bringing them on active duty orders to supplement the active duty force in the war. What the services didn’t seem to consider was the financial impact of these numerous and extended mobilizations, and there was a general lack of awareness about what precisely the Joint Federal Travel Regulation (JFTR) said about pay and entitlements in these unique circumstances. Now, years later, the services are looking back at the amount of money and entitlements expended in this massive mobilization, and they are accusing their members of travel voucher fraud and entitlement fraud.

These cases often involve misunderstandings about what the JFTR says, what pay and entitlements were authorized for the member, how the JFTR applies to the circumstances of the case and what the accused military member knew and understood when the travel vouchers were filed.

Military larceny, wrongful appropriation, and fraud cases can be complicated, as they can involve stacks of civilian bank records, proof of monetary transactions, forensic accountants, government finance offices and DFAS (Defense Finance and Accounting Services). Not only can these cases be complicated, the accused military members face extreme jeopardy – possible federal criminal conviction, lengthy jail terms, dishonorable discharge or dismissal, and a variety of other legal, professional, personal, and family consequences. An experienced and aggressive defense attorney is absolutely vital in these military cases.

Richard V. Stevens and Frank J. Spinner are civilian criminal defense attorneys and former military JAG lawyers who exclusively practice military law and defend military members stationed around the world who are facing military trials, discipline and investigations. If you’re facing military allegations of larceny, wrongful appropriation, fraud, travel voucher and entitlement fraud, or uttering worthless checks, don’t hesitate to seek the legal help you’re going to need.

For a free initial case consultation, please contact us.