Richard Allen, a 52-year-old former Petty Officer First Class from Citrus Heights, CA, has confessed in federal court in Rhode Island to his role in a scheme to steal and sell government property valued at over $850,000 from a Navy base supplying ships in the Atlantic Fleet.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Allen, who served more than 20 years in the United States Navy, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and six counts of money laundering, as charged in a federal grand jury indictment.
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Court documents revealed that while stationed at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex in Williamsburg, VA, Allen and his accomplices repeatedly broke into a Navy warehouse, stealing items such as uniforms, winter gear, flame retardant clothing, body armor, and other military supplies.
The stolen goods, valued at $856,433, were stored in various locations, including Rhode Island, and sold to domestic and international buyers. Payments were often made through PayPal, with many transactions originating from China. Allen and his co-conspirators transferred the proceeds in small increments to avoid bank reporting requirements.
Allen is scheduled for sentencing on November 26, 2024.
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The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Paul F. Daly, Jr., and investigated by multiple agencies including the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI.
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