Couple goes on vacation to Disney World and lets the state pay for it
Florida (USA) - Vacation in "Disney World", the government pays. A high-ranking US official and his partner relied on this concept, but presented completely false facts and were exposed, writes the New York Post.
Thomas Bouchard (61) was serving as a contractor for the US Army and had also got his girlfriend Cantelle Boyd (53) a job with him. He used his connections to "Evolution Enterprise Inc.", a profitable company, but his sweetheart did not actually work.
Instead, she and the now 61-year-old spent several years on lavish vacations in Walt Disney theme parks.
The state lost an immense six-figure sum due to a total of 31 trips to the Disney World theme parks.
The couple traveled several times for between two and 15 days during supposed business hours, but then relaxed by the pool, visited Disney attractions and were paid for their overnight stays, including some of the travel expenses.
Forbidden vacation at Disney World: What punishment the couple receives
"Those of us who have the privilege of working in public service have a duty to the taxpayers to act with integrity at all times," stated District Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
Just to put the dimensions into perspective: Boyd received a total salary of around 488,000 US dollars (about 444,000 euros) between 2014 and 2018 and performed "little to no function".
She was placed under electronically monitored house arrest for a period of six months and is to pay compensation "at a later date".
Her partner did not get off scot-free either. Bouchard received a prison sentence of one year and one day.
He was ordered to pay back the almost 500,000 euros that Boyd wrongly earned.