Woman Who Used Government Funds For Disney Trips Pleads Guilty: MA DOJ

NATICK, MA — A Maryland woman pleaded guilty to using government funds for non-work trips after she was hired for a "no show" job by a co-defendant. Officials said 31 of these trips were to Orlando, Fla., where the spent time at Disney Parks instead of working.

Chantelle Boyd, 53, of Woodsboro, Md., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, 10 counts of theft of government funds and false declarations before the grand jury. Boyd was arrested and charged in July 2020 along with co-defendant Thomas Bouchard.

According to the charging documents, in 2014, Bouchard used his long-standing relationship with Evolution Enterprise, Inc., a government contractor, to have Boyd hired for a “no show” job as an assistant that specifically supported Bouchard.

Boyd’s position cost the Department of Defense more than $490,000 during her time at Evolution from 2014 to 2018, during which Boyd performed "little if any useful function," the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said.

The duo took a number of government-funded trips during this time, which ranged in duration from two to 15 days. They shared a hotel room during these trips, officials noted.

A number of these trips were to Florida and other warm-weather areas, where, the U.S. Attorney said, they spent their days lounging by the pool or going to Disney parks.

"In order to conceal the personal nature of the trips, Bouchard altered, created and approved false travel to reimburse the Boyd for out-of-pocket expenses," officials said.

Additionally, Boyd made false statements to the grand jury in May 2018 in relation to these trips.