A US Air Force staff sergeant and his husband are accused of stealing more than $3 million from the government to pay for a luxury lifestyle that included high-end cars and a million-dollar home in Arizona.Staff Sgt. Richard Stefon Ramroop, 35, and Manuel George Madrid, 32, were charged in a 12-count indictment for allegedly running the scheme between January 2022 and December 2025. The US Department of Justice announced the charges on Thursday.Prosecutors say Ramroop used his position as a pharmacist at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson to order thousands of medical devices using government funds. After obtaining the equipment, the couple allegedly resold the items and kept the profits.
Authorities say the scheme cost the Department of War more than $3 million.According to investigators, bank accounts linked to the pair received more than $11 million in wire transfers, Automated Clearing House deposits and other credits from companies that purchased the devices.The money was allegedly used to fund an expensive lifestyle. The couple bought a 5,622 square-foot property in the Tucson Mountains neighbourhood for $1.1 million in January 2024.
The home sits on 4.9 acres and includes four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a grand double staircase entrance and a five-car garage. Madrid became the sole owner in May 2025 and sold the property that same month for $1.1 million.They also purchased several luxury vehicles, including a 2024 Porsche Cayenne worth $141,443.34 and a BMW i7 priced at $195,397.59. Other vehicles listed in court documents include a 2025 Ford F-150 Raptor, 2025 Mini Cooper S Convertible, 2025 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2026 BMW X7 Alpina XB7, and a 2026 Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum. Officials seized the vehicles and other assets during a search warrant executed on 15 January.“The defendants allegedly stole millions in taxpayer dollars from the US Department of War to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, diverting critical resources away from their intended purpose,” Arizona US Attorney Timothy Courchaine said. They added: “Every dollar taken through fraud is a dollar denied to the mission it was meant to support.”“Fraud of this level is not just a financial crime, it undermines public trust, diverts resources, and threatens the integrity of our force. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar taken away from the security of our nation,” AFOSI Special Agent Richard Kautz said.Ramroop was arrested shortly after the search. Madrid was charged in January 22. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit theft of government property, up to 20 years for wire fraud, and up to 10 years for money laundering.
