Tucson airman, partner defrauded Pentagon to fund lavish way of life, feds say

TUCSON, AZ (AZFamily) — A Tucson couple was charged with a dozen felonies after federal prosecutors stated the pair allegedly defrauded the Pentagon of tens of millions of {dollars} to pay for a lavish way of life.

A federal grand jury indicted U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Stefon Ramroop, 35, and his partner, Manuel George Madrid, 32, on 12 prices, together with conspiracy, wire fraud and cash laundering.

Investigators stated from January 2022 to December 2025, Ramroop used his job within the pharmacy at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to purchase hundreds of medical units and check strips on the taxpayers’ dime after which resold the units with Madrid.

According to court docket paperwork, the pair acquired $11 million by way of the scheme and value the Pentagon greater than $3 million.

“When a servicemember abuses their position for personal gain, it erodes trust in the tax system and harms the very citizens they have sworn an oath to protect,” IRS-CI Phoenix Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory stated in a written assertion.

Prosecutors stated the couple used the money to purchase luxurious objects similar to a million-dollar residence in Tucson in February 2024, a brand new 2024 Porsche SUV for $141,443 and a brand new BMW i7 SUV for $195,398.

Federal brokers seized the SUVs and different objects whereas looking out Ramroop and Madrid’s residence on Jan. 15.

“The defendants allegedly stole millions in taxpayer dollars from the U.S. Department of War to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, diverting critical resources away from their intended purpose,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine stated in a written assertion. “Every dollar taken through fraud is a dollar denied to the mission it was meant to support. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and local law enforcement partners will hold accountable any individual who profits illegally at the expense of the American people.”

The most penalty for every rely ranges from 5 to twenty years in jail.

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