In connection with his business activities with the government and his employer, retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general Scott Bethel was found guilty of wire fraud, filed a fraudulent tax return, and received a prison sentence. This led to a $139,687 loss in federal taxes.Â
Retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general Scott Bethel has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for wire fraud and filing a false tax return. Bethel had launched a business that worked with both the government and his employer, both of which he would reportedly submit invoices to. He falsified charitable deductions and business expenses from 2015 to 2019, totaling $139,687 in government tax loss. During his scheme, he reportedly received approximately $15,000 from the Air Force to which he was not entitled. In addition to time served, Bethel was ordered to pay nearly $155,000 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release. The sentencing serves as a reminder that those in positions of authority and trust are expected to uphold higher standards of integrity and accountability.Â
