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SALT LAKE CITY — A U.S. Army Reserve colonel was sentenced to parole in federal court Thursday after pleading guilty to a scheme to pocket over $60,000 in false military reimbursements that cost him over three times as much in fees and lost retirement pay.
Col. Reece Dennis Roberts entered the spacious, wood-paneled courtroom in a black suit and red smartwatch, reflecting the muted afternoon sun coming through long semitransparent windows. The 53-year-old looked tired as he placed a Mountain Dew on a desk, briefly resting his shaved head in his hands.
Judge David Barlow said he had received letters and military records in support of the colonel to consider ahead of the sentencing hearing, along with memos from the prosecution and defense in a presentencing report.
A 30-month military investigation that started in October 2022 led to disciplinary action in Roberts' file and later the colonel's request to retire, court documents show. A grand jury then indicted Roberts in February with four counts — fraudulent claim against the United States, conspiracy to defraud the United States, theft of government property, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
On June 11, Roberts pleaded guilty to all counts, and Thursday, Barlow passed down a sentence of one year parole and a $10,000 fine, along with restitution owed in the amount of around $62,000.
Roberts received orders calling him to active duty at Fort Douglas in 2020, according to court documents, so the man listed his family's private residence as an out-of-state address, despite living in Herriman with his family.
From June 2020 to July 2021, Roberts created a fake lease agreement and online listing for a rental property, complete with false rent payments using his know-how from his real estate company, submitting over a dozen false vouchers to the government, charges say.
The false information allowed him to claim a family separation allowance and reimbursement for personal lodging expenses.
As Pennsylvania defense attorney Jonathan Crisp argued against the prosecution's suggested $30,000 fine, and the statutory recommendation of 12 to 18 months imprisonment, Roberts looked calmly on the proceeding. The only hint of nerves was his foot tapping the base of his chair under the desk.
"The moment that this came out," Crisp said, "(Roberts) immediately wanted to cooperate and plead guilty." The defense attorney pointed to the fact that Roberts already repaid $59,000 in restitution and is planning on paying the rest after the hearing.
Crisp argued "he is not trying to hide from this," pointing to Robert's children, wife and parents in the courtroom. Many family members submitted letters in support of Roberts.
Roberts, who has served 33 years in the military with an active deployment, suffered three strokes this year. "The stress has been tremendous," Crisp said.
Prosecuting attorney Tanner Zumwalt said his team believes Roberts' "contrition is genuine and deeply held," and that the fraud "didn't happen in a vacuum." Zumwalt said there was an "epidemic of pay fraud at Fort Douglas at the time."
The crime was "driven by greed," Zumwalt said, and a fine without imprisonment should be appropriate in addressing it.
The colonel took to the podium to speak to Barlow before a sentence was imposed. "I've let a lot of people down," he said. "I didn't live up to the values that I espoused and held others accountable for."
Roberts grew emotional, as did some of his family in the audience. "I've hurt a lot of people, and that is what I am most sorry for," he said.
Barlow told the court that sentencing is always difficult. "I don't know Mr. Roberts," he said. "There's no way to do justice to the full scope of a person" when considering factors for punishment.
Roberts had zero past criminal history, Barlow said. He's a father of five and has been married for over 30 years. Roberts also served over 30 years honorably in the military by all accounts, and the charges will have a significant financial impact for the rest of his life.
It is likely, according to Crisp, that Roberts will be downgraded a pay level in retirement because of the conviction, not to mention the $180,000 that he would have accrued if his retirement request was accepted before the military investigation.
In a letter before the sentencing, Roberts wrote, "I have paid a steep price for my failure to be honest, the biggest of which is my loss of honor and reputation."
He said that "in a sad irony, I have lost much more money than I gained," and that "living an honorable and ethical life is my only recourse to overcoming, in some measure, the dishonor and shame I have brought upon myself."
Roberts said he will be retiring from the Army as soon as it accepts his request.
