Three more charged with conspiracy to steal from Anniston Army Depot

Birmingham, Alabama (wiatt) — Three people were charged with conspiracy to steal US property from the Anniston Army Depot, and US Attorney Prim F. Escalona and other members of the federal government were charged, it was announced. press release Thursday.

Kelvin Battle, 53, Steve Bonner, 62, and Shane Farthing, 41, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. property, according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court. indicted. Battle and Donner were each charged with additional charges related to specific cases of stealing and selling property stolen from ANAD. Battle has also been charged with two counts of wire fraud.

Battle and Farthing, both ANAD police officers, allegedly worked with other civilians from the Emergency Services Directorate to steal military property from ANAD warehouses. According to the plea deal, Farthing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to steal property from the United States. The plea deal says Farthing will pay reparations to the United States and confiscate funds from his conspiracy.

Bonner is said to have sold the stolen property to a buyer and handed over the property to the owner of a munitions store in Sylacauga. The stolen property included equipment for military weapon systems that would provide improved night engagement capabilities and target acquisition.

The charges relate to an investigation in which six other people pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty to crimes related to theft of property from ANAD.

in December, Christopher Price, 54, James Kenneth Scott, 71, and Eric Matlaia, 43, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. property.. 2 civilians from ANAD, Stantilio Whitfield and Tevin Fletcher were similarly indicted in October..

The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison, while theft of government property carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Wire fraud charges can carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Each charge carries a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Office of the Inspector General of the Defense Logistics Agency. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Martin and Ryan Ramage.