Former airman accused of double dipping, lying to get contract work

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A Tucson man has been accused of lying to get work with federal contractors while still serving in the U.S. Air Force.

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The Department of Justice said 44-year-old Davide Velarde was indicted last week for “making materially false statements on background investigation forms” to secure jobs with contractors for NASA, IRS, and NOAA.

The DOJ said Velarde also failed to mention he had previously gotten fired from federal contract work while applying for a job with a NOAA contractor.

Velarde made more than $466,000 from the Air Force and 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.”

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If convicted, Velarde could face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“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.”

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