Three additional people charged with conspiracy to steal from Anniston Army Depot
Three additional individuals were charged with conspiracy to steal United States property from Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) in an ongoing investigation, according to U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
In charging documents filed in United States District Court, 53-year-old Kelvin Battle, of Anniston, 62-year-old Steve Bonner, of Goodwater, and 41-year-old Shane Farthing, of Gadsden, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to steal United States property.
Battle and Bonner were also each charged with an additional count related to specific instances of stealing or selling property stolen from ANAD.
Officials said six other individuals have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty to offenses related to the theft of property from ANAD.
According to the charging documents, Battle and Farthing, who were police officers at ANAD, and other civilian employees of the Directorate of Emergency Services are accused of stealing military property from warehouses at ANAD.
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Bonner reportedly acted as a middleman, allegedly selling stolen property directly to buyers and delivering stolen property to the owner of a military surplus store in Sylacauga.
The stolen items included equipment that was designed to be attached to military weapon systems to provide operators with instant nighttime engagement capabilities and/or improved target acquisition.
Battle was also charged with two counts of wire fraud in connection with false statements made to obtain emergency loans and a loan guarantee from the Small Business Administration under programs designed to provide support to small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a plea agreement, also filed today, Farthing has agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy to steal United States property. The plea agreement states that Farthing agreed to pay restitution to the United States and forfeit the money he made from the conspiracy.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for theft of government property is ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for wire fraud is twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
