Couple scams U.S. government out of $500,000—you won't believe where they spent it all

A man with ties to a government contractor took advantage of his connections to scam the U.S. government out of nearly $500,000, all while pretending to be on official work trips with his wife. But where were they really headed? You won’t believe it—Disneyland. Now, his scheme has unravelled. On August 5, he was sentenced to one year and a day in prison, along with a hefty $487,658 restitution bill.

Thomas Bouchard, a senior Contracting Officer with the U.S. Army Natick Contracting Division, was at the center of a brazen scheme that spanned years.?

In 2014, he used his influence and a “long-standing relationship” with government contractor Evolution Enterprise Inc. to secure a cushy, no-show job for his girlfriend, 53-year-old Chantelle Boyd, as his assistant.?

Boyd was hired on paper but did little to no actual work.

Together, Bouchard and Boyd took numerous trips - including 31 trips to Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Credit: Unsplash

Instead of conducting business, the pair often stayed at the same hotel, lounging by the pool and visiting Disney parks—during what were supposed to be work hours.?

Bouchard went to great lengths to conceal their activities, altering travel documents and fabricating expenses to ensure Boyd was reimbursed for their lavish, personal trips.

In April 2023, Bouchard pleaded guilty to the fraud, and by August 2024, he was sentenced to one year and a day in prison, followed by supervised release.?

In addition, Bouchard was ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in restitution for the misuse of government funds.?

Boyd received a lesser sentence of six months of home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release for her role in the scam.?

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