Former US contractor found guilty of theft in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): A former government contractor has been found guilty of playing a role in a scheme to unlawfully ship government property from the Kandahar Airfield to his home in Arizona for resale, the Department of Justice said on Wednesday.

After a three day trial, Michael Dale Gilbert, 38, was convicted of three counts of theft and unauthorised sale of government property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. The sentencing is scheduled for October 9.

According to court documents, Gilbert was deployed to Kandahar Airfield from 2012 to 2015 when he assisted the Department of State with the Foreign Excess Personal Property programme. 

Once equipment, including computer, heavy construction items and work tools, was requested through the programme, Gilbert was assigned to arrange for its transfer for use, or for destruction, to prevent the items from falling into the hands of insurgents.

In that role, in or around April and December of 2014, instead of facilitating the transportation or destruction of government property, Gilbert shipped FEPP to the US and transported the items to his residence in Arizona. 

Gilbert stole FEP items worth at least $48,900, including items recovered from his residence, valued at approximately $16,700, about $3,700 in sales through eBay, and goods worth $28,500 he sold through other means. 

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