A National Guard officer based in Washington D.C. has confessed to misusing government funds and unlawful immigration activities after marrying a second wife while still married to his first spouse. Major Collin L. Welch, a 40-year-old officer of the D.C. National Guard, faces legal repercussions following his guilty plea to charges of unlawfully inducing aliens to enter and remain in the United States, as well as theft amounting to approximately $54,000 in government money.
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According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Welch’s actions stemmed from a relationship that began when he was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 2019. Despite being legally married to another woman, he entered a relationship with a Mongolian national, ultimately marrying her in 2022 while providing her with a forged divorce decree.
Welch’s illicit activities extended beyond marriage. After tying the knot in Mongolia, he brought his new wife and her daughter to the United States on tourist visas in 2024. To further entrench his deception, Welch remarried the woman in Virginia just months later. As their visas expired, he continued to provide support for the family, despite the implications of their immigration status.
Utilising his government travel card, Welch submitted falsified travel vouchers and forged receipts for rental cars and accommodations. The fraudulent activity resulted in more than $54,000 in unwarranted charges, which he directed towards personal travel and living expenses for the woman and her daughter. Additionally, he misled his wife regarding her immigration status, fabricating documents that falsely indicated he had initiated the immigration process on her behalf.
Among the documents he created were counterfeit permanent residency approvals, Social Security cards, and a letter that claimed they were entitled to military dependent health benefits. Despite the pretence, Welch never filed any of these documents with appropriate governmental bodies, compounding his legal troubles.
As part of a plea agreement, Welch has consented to forfeit the sum of $54,000. The court has scheduled his sentencing for December 3, where further consequences of his actions will be determined.
The investigation into Welch’s activities was spearheaded by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, in conjunction with the Criminal Investigations Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This case highlights the potential for serious misconduct among those in positions of trust and responsibility within the military, stressing the importance of accountability.
The repercussions of Welch’s actions reach beyond the financial realm, raising questions about the integrity of military personnel and the systems in place to oversee their conduct. As the case progresses toward sentencing, it serves as a warning to others about the serious implications of abusing one’s position and the law.
As of yet, representatives from the Army Criminal Investigation Division have not responded to inquiries seeking further comment on the case, leaving some aspects of the investigation shrouded in uncertainty.