AUSTIN, Texas — A former federal government employee and an active-duty soldier at Camp Mabry in Austin were sentenced to prison on Thursday after stealing and selling more than $2 million worth of equipment from the military institution.
Former U.S. Property and Fiscal Office Program Analyst Joseph Mora, 35, of Schertz, and former Texas National Guardsman Cristal Avila, 27, of Fort Worth, pleaded guilty to the charge of theft of government property in August.
Mora was sentenced to four years in prison while Avila was sentenced to two years in prison. Each will receive three years of supervised release after completing their prison terms.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Avila and Mora removed large quantities of sensitive military-grade equipment, including rifle scopes, infrared laser devices and thermal night vision goggles and later sold them on eBay.
Photos show items stolen from Camp Mabry in Austin
Federal agents executed a search warrant on Sept. 24, 2019, of Mora's residence, in which they recovered dozens of items believed to be stolen from Camp Mabry.
“Stealing military equipment and offering it to the highest bidder endangers our communities and the brave men and women who protect us here at home and abroad. Thanks to the hard work of DCIS Southwest Field Office, HSI, Army CID and USPIS, the individuals who purloined more than $2.4 million worth of sensitive military gear have been held accountable and we can rest easier knowing that these items are not being offered up to criminals or those who would use them for nefarious purposes,” U.S. Attorney Gregg Sofer said in a press release.
Both Mora and Avila also were ordered to pay, jointly and severally, more than $2 million in restitution and to forfeit a 2016 Cadillac Escalade, along with more than $53,000 seized from bank accounts belonging to Mora.
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