Tucson Airman Caught Lying To Get Federal Contract

A federal grand jury in Tucson returned an indictment against Davide Velarde, for allegedly lying about his Air Force retirement date so he could secretly collect paychecks from federal contractor

The 44-year-old Velarde, of Tucson, is accused of making materially false statements on background investigation forms to obtain employment with federal contractors for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

According to the Department of Justice, the indictment alleges that while Mr. Velarde was still on active duty with the United States Air Force (USAF), he held positions with federal contractors for the IRS and NASA after making false statements about when he would retire from the USAF. After retiring, Mr. Velarde made additional false statements while applying to work for a federal contractor for NOAA to conceal that he had been previously fired from federal contract work. Mr. Velarde is alleged to have earned approximately $466,708 in wages from the USAF and the federal contractors between August 2021 and October 2025.

“American servicemembers are held to the highest level of integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This case is about protecting the honor of every other airman by holding David Velarde accountable for his alleged falsehoods. Our office is proud to stand with the United States Air Force and the many excellent investigators involved in this matter.”

“You cannot be in multiple places at once, and you certainly cannot mislead the federal government to obtain simultaneous employment,” said Jennifer Bryan, Special Agent in Charge of the NASA Office of Inspector General’s Western Field Office. “David Velarde’s scheme to collect multiple paychecks was both an abuse of taxpayer dollars and a breach of public trust. Let this indictment be an example to those who attempt to game the federal contracting system.”

“As the nation’s tax watchdog, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) contracting and procurement processes” said Special Agent in Charge Krystofor Proev of TIGTA’s Northwest Field Division. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their continued collaboration and critical support in this investigation.”

“According to the indictment, David Velarde knowingly provided false information to secure federal contract positions, including with NOAA,” said Judd Leinum, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General. “Misrepresenting employment history and eligibility threatens the integrity of federal procurement and the protection of taxpayer funds. Any attempt to deceive federal agencies will not be tolerated. We appreciate the partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and our law enforcement partners in pursuing this matter.”

“This is another great example of interagency efforts to stem fraudulent activity impacting entities across the federal government,” said Special Agent Richard Kautz, AFOSI Detachment 217 Commander. “This case highlights the ever-present commitment of the involved agencies to protecting the integrity of our hiring and employment practices.”

A conviction for making false statements carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.