Former U.S. Army Reservist Pleads Guilty to Falsely Receiving More Than $400,000 in Unearned Pay and Benefits

EUGENE, OR—John Amos, 51, and a resident of Newport, Oregon, is a former reservist in the United States Army. Amos pleaded guilty today to misprision of a felony for failing to notify the U.S. Army that he was being paid even though he was not actively serving. As part of his plea agreement, Amos will pay full restitution. Sentencing is set for February 15, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. before Chief U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken. The maximum penalty for misprision of a felony is three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

According to the plea agreement, Amos, a reservist from 1984 through February 2012, was called to active duty several times during his career. He was last on active duty, serving full-time, at the Umatilla Army Depot from April 2004 through April 2007 and was receiving a monthly salary. When his activation orders ended on April 24, 2007, he was no longer entitled to monthly pay. Yet, he continued to receive a monthly paycheck until the error was identified in April 2011. Despite knowing he was no longer entitled to the monthly payments, Amos still cashed the checks and never informed the U.S. Army of its mistake. In total, Amos received over $400,000 in pay to which he was not entitled.

This investigation was conducted by the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy E. Potter.