Airman & Spouse Accused of $11M Fraud to Fund Lavish Lifestyle in Tucson

A Tucson-based airman and his husband have been indicted on federal charges alleging they defrauded the U.S. Department of War out of more than $11 million, according to a statement released Monday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Staff Sgt. Richard Ramroop, 35, and Manuel Madrid, 32, are accused of using fraudulent payments to fund a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a $1 million home in Tucson in February 2024, a 2024 Porsche Cayenne Sport Utility Vehicle for $141,443.34, and a BMW i7 Sport Utility Vehicle for $195,397.59. The indictment alleges Ramroop, although working as a pharmacist at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, exploited his position to purchase thousands of medical devices with government funds, which were then resold for personal profit.

Prosecutors claim that between 2022 and 2025, bank accounts controlled by Ramroop and Madrid received over $11 million through wire transfers, Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposits, and other credits from companies involved in reselling medical test strips and devices. The U.S. Department of War incurred losses exceeding $3 million due to the diverted medical supplies, according to court records.

“The defendants allegedly stole millions in taxpayer dollars from the U.S. Department of War to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, diverting critical resources away from their intended purpose,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Every dollar taken through fraud is a dollar denied to the mission it was meant to support. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal and local law enforcement partners will hold accountable any individual who profits illegally at the expense of the American people.”

The investigation was led by IRS–Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), with assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann is prosecuting the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Tucson.

Ramroop and Madrid face charges of Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Property, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering. A conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Property carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Wire Fraud each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. Money Laundering convictions each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not announced a trial date.