by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Another Air Guard member pleaded guilty to making a fraudulent claim against the United States. Dora Sarmiento appeared in the District Court this afternoon, admitting that she received close to $40,000 in overseas housing allowance that she was not entitled to. A status hearing is set for November 27 with the sentencing to be scheduled at a later time. Sarmiento faces a maximum sentence of five years behind bars with a $250,000 fine.

As for other airmen who pleaded guilty to similar charges and were sentenced to probation, Shalene Crisostomo was fired from the Guard, while Edward Biacan resigned and Reginald Diaz is in the process of being discharged from the military.