Men stole, sold military robots and armor on eBay: FBI

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Federal agents have arrested four men they say conspired to steal, sell and buy military equipment ranging from a pair of $187,000 robots to body armor, uniforms, an M4 rifle and ammunition.

According to authorities, three of the men stole materiel from Fort Carson and gave it to a fourth man, Daniel Francis, to sell. They then split the proceeds, according to text messages among them that were included in court documents. Federal agents filed the case against the men Thursday after arresting them Wednesday.

"…This investigation reveals that Daniel Francis obtained a significant volume of military items stolen from Fort Carson and sold them," investigators wrote in court documents. "Francis showed the (undercover employee) multiple storage units that he leased that contained ammunition, military uniforms, medical equipment, pelican cases and other military equipment… Francis stated to the UCE that he is aware that many of these items may be stolen prior to him purchasing them."

Francis is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess ammunition, investigators said.

FBI agents began investigating after multiple thefts from Fort Carson in January, including one incident in which someone cut through a fence, damaged locks and then entered a secure equipment cage. Taken in those thefts were laser range-finders, thermal-vision equipment, headsets, body armor and axes. A few days later, investigators said, someone began offering those items for sale on EBay -- from an address less than a mile away from the Army post.

Investigators say they met several times with Francis to buy stolen equipment, and also recovered both of the missing robots. One of the robots had been sold to a man in Alabama, along with a variety of other military equipment, for $20,000-$30,000, a fraction of its true worth.

Along with Francis, agents arrested: Benjamin Cardwell, a staff sergeant, Todd Crow, a former unit armorer and 14-year veteran, and Jonny Herrera, a sergeant and unit armorer/supply specialist. Investigators said the men used their knowledge of military procurement and tracking rules to target valuable items.

The men face five-year prison sentences and fines of up to $250,000.