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Home Front: WoT
Feds bust ring stealing bulletproof vests
2006-02-23
Nine people, some of them U.S. Marines, have been arrested for stealing bulletproof vests intended for American troops in Iraq and trying to sell them to international arms merchants, Homeland Security officials said on Wednesday.
they're not true Marines, they just wear the uniform
Authorities said they had busted a group that stole ballistic vests, helmets and protective plates from the Camp Pendleton Marine base in San Diego, California, and sold them on the Internet. Several additional suspects are believed to be serving with the U.S. military in Iraq.

"At a time when our troops in Iraq need all the body armor they can get, it is extremely troubling to see bulletproof vests destined for those troops being stolen from our military bases at home for resale to the public," said Julie Myers, assistant secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with the Department of Homeland Security. "It is even more troubling that individuals would try to sell these items for profit to people they believed were international arms dealers," Myers said in a statement.

One San Diego resident, Erika Jardine, was sentenced on Wednesday to six months in prison by a federal court in Philadelphia for selling U.S. property.
Not long enough.
ICE agents began investigating Jardine in June 2004 after she was discovered selling 18 stolen ballistic vests on eBay to agents posing as overseas arms dealers. Their investigation led them to several U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton who had sold equipment to Jardine. Eight people, some of them Marines and several civilians, have since been arrested on charges of stealing government property and other arrests are expected.

ICE agents said they had recovered or purchased items worth more than $63,000 including tactical vests, protective inserts, helmets, gas masks, M-16 assault rifle magazines and more than 100,000 Iraqi dinars.
Posted by:lotp

#7  I just posted an article on p.2 about the same case, which emphasizes that it wasn't a crime gang, but a dozen guys who all had the same bright idea. Compare and contrast, and decide for youselves, ladies and gents.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-02-23 17:01  

#6  Without insulting Rantburg's atheists and agnostics, the statement stands on its own as Without a moral compass, people become assholes. We see from the riots and the murders that religion alone doesn't guide people to proper behaviour, if they choose an immoral religion.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-02-23 16:40  

#5  Though I'm not religious, you comment is well taken, wx.
Posted by: .com   2006-02-23 12:36  

#4  This is why religion exists in this world. Without a moral compass, people become assholes.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-02-23 10:03  

#3  "...and more than 100,000 Iraqi dinars."
holy crap selling to the enemy?! 6 months definitely isn't long enough, bastards.
Posted by: Jan   2006-02-23 00:56  

#2  returning. PIMF.
Posted by: .com   2006-02-23 00:07  

#1  Just turn 'em over to the next returing unit of Jarines. It will be settled satisfactorily.
Posted by: .com   2006-02-23 00:06  

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