A U.S. Army veteran who pleaded guilty to stealing $2.1 million worth of military equipment from a Texas Army base was sentenced to an 18-month prison sentence last Tuesday. I was sentenced to imprisonment and ordered to pay more. $1 million return to the Army.
Jessica Elaine Trell-Smith, 30, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by two years after her release before a remote hearing by U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton. The Killeen Daily Herald reported.
Smith also paid the Army about $1.3 million in compensation for her role in the theft of Fort Hood. Must, Tipton ruled.
A veterinarian pleaded guilty in April to stealing dozens of Army infrared scopes, radios and night vision goggles from a Texas base. She and her two co-conspirators snatched expensive specialized equipment during her June 16th to her June 17th night.
The next day, a soldier at Fort Hood found 17 shipping containers unlocked and an inventory count revealed his 137 items, worth about $2.1 million in total. I found it missing from the container.
"It was a smash and grab," Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Stacy Dunn said Tuesday, according to the Herald. ``They took whatever they could get their hands on.''
Less than two weeks after Smith and her co-conspirators, Army investigators found stolen items of booty for sale on her eBay. I was caught when The item listed on the resale site had a serial number that matched the missing piece of equipment.
On April 5, Smith pleaded guilty to one of her counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Her second count of charges against her was dropped as part of a plea bargain, according to the Herald.
The veteran apologized to the government, army units and family members during Tuesday's sentencing, the outlet reported.
"I want a better reality," said Smith. "I want my life to be better and I will never be in a situation like this again."
The mother said she had become "financially desperate" to support her children.
Nathan Nichols, one of Smith's co-defendants in the case, also pleaded guilty and is expected to be sentenced in October. He is expected to be held responsible for paying the Army $1.3 million in damages, the judge said.
A third co-defendant and fellow Army veteran Brando Dominic his Brown pleaded not guilty in November 2021.
