Two civilian employees at the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) have been charged with conspiracy to steal property of the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent in Charge Cynthia Bruce, Defense Logistics Agency Office of the Inspector General Assistant Deputy Inspector General Ronald Wesley, and United States Army Criminal Investigation Division Acting Special Agent in Charge D. Todd Outlaw.

In charging documents filed Thursday in United States District Court, Stantillio Whitfield, 43, of Anniston and Tevin Fletcher, 32, of Oxford are each charged with one count of conspiracy to steal property of the United States.

According to the charging documents, Whitfield was a Material Examiner and Identifier for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and Fletcher was a Material Expeditor for DLA.

The documents allege that between October 2020 and September 2020, Whitfield and Fletcher conspired to steal approximately 50 AN/PVS-30 scopes and other government property valued at approximately $546,750.00 from DLA facilities at ANAD. AN/PVS-30 scopes are designed to be attached to military weapons systems to provide operators with instant nighttime engagement capabilities. The charging documents also allege that Whitfield and Fletcher sold the stolen property at substantially discounted prices and shared the proceeds.

“The allegations against these defendants show they placed personal gain above their duty and the safety of our military personnel,” said United States Attorney Escalona. “We continue to work with our law enforcement partners to track and prosecute those who violate positions of public trust.”

“This is an initial step toward eradicating corruption within the ranks at the Anniston Army Depot,” Special Agent in Charge Cynthia Bruce of the Defense Department’s Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service said. “This investigation uncovered trusted government employees involved in a multi-year conspiracy to steal government property and convert it for their own personal gain.”

“The tireless efforts of the dedicated men and women of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and our Law Enforcement partners ensures individuals are held accountable for their actions and army assets are properly accounted for and maintained,” said, D. Todd Outlaw, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Southern Field Office.

According to the plea agreements, also filed today, Whitfield and Fletcher have each agreed to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge. The Plea Agreements state that Whitfield received approximately $160,524.61 from the sale of government property stolen from ANAD and sent approximately $34,840.00 to Fletcher. Each defendant has agreed to pay restitution of $546,750.00 to the United States and forfeit the money they made from the conspiracy.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Logistics Agency Office of Inspector General are investigating the case, and Assistant United States Attorney George Martin is prosecuting it.