by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The federal government is sparing no expense in going after those who are serving our country and protecting our freedom while at the same time stealing taxpayer money. In the last six months, authorities have pursued criminal charges against a handful of Guam Air National Guardsmen accused of lying about their living conditions to line their pocketbooks.

The Overseas Housing Allowance Program is a means for men and women in the military to receive assistance for their living arrangements while on active deployment. If a service member isn't paying any rent, then they are not entitled to the allowance. But a group of Guam airmen are accused of milking the system for their personal gain.

Edward Biacan is the latest member of the Guam Air National Guard who has been charged in the District Court with making a fraudulent claim against the United States. Biacan signed a plea agreement admitted that he made false claims to the 254th Financial Services Flight Division of the Guam Air Guard in order to obtain close to $25,000 in overseas housing allowance funds.

According to the plea agreement, Biacan admitted that he submitted documentation that said he was paying $2,400 a month in rent to live at a home in Anigua. But the feds were able to determine he wasn't even living at that house and other individuals were the ones paying for the housing and utilities. Biacan agreed to cooperate with federal authorities as the maximum sentence for making a fraudulent claim is five years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.

He is the latest airman to be charged in federal court. Shalene Crisostomo, Reginald Diaz, Michael Castro and Joseph Balajadia are accused of doing the same thing, taking thousands of dollars from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service by submitting bogus lease documents. The National Guard cannot comment on the cases currently in court, but Adjutant General Benny Paulino has expressed his disappointment with the allegations against members of his organization.