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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Sticky-Fingered Sergeant Faces Prison Time

(CN) - A former Army sergeant pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to steal Army equipment as he trained the Iraqi army in Mosul. Robert Ashley Nelson, 46, of San Antonio, pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with conspiracy to steal public property.

Nelson was deployed to Forward Operating Base Diamondback in Iraq, as noncommissioned officer in charge of the Ninewa Operations Command Military Transition Team, which helped train the Iraqi Army units stationed nearby.

"Nelson agreed with a U.S. Army translator to steal eight generators from a lot on base that held various pieces of used equipment," prosecutors said. "Once the generators were taken off the base, the translator arranged for them to be sold on the black market in Iraq."

Nelson admitted he received half of the money they got from the stolen equipment - about $44,830. About $35,000 of it was wired to his account by the translator's brother.

Nelson faces up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 at his Oct. 5 sentencing.

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