United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

FORMER MEMBER OF U.S. NAVY ADMITS STEALING AND SELLING EQUIPMENT

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILFRED J. BOUTON, 30, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to one count of conspiracy to traffic in stolen Government property.  BOUTON formerly was a gunner’s mate, first class, in the United States Navy.

According to court documents and statements made in court, BOUTON was a gunner’s mate, first class, in the United States Navy assigned to an explosive ordinance disposal unit at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor, Washington.  From 2007 to 2009, BOUTON stole gun sights and other gun-related accessories from his unit’s armory, including Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights (ACOGs) manufactured by Trijicon, Inc.; rifle scopes manufactured by Schmidt & Bender; spotting scopes manufactured by Swarovski; and range finders manufactured by Leica.  BOUTON then sold the equipment to an individual in Florida.  In pleading guilty, BOUTON admitted that he stole between 50 and 100 ACOGs from the U.S. Navy, and was paid approximately $90,000 by the individual in Florida for the stolen equipment.

BOUTON is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson on January 8, 2010, at which time BOUTON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

On July 22, 2009, BOUTON was arrested by agents with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.  BOUTON was discharged from the Navy on August 11.

This matter is being investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service of the United States Department of Defense, Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the United States Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Export Enforcement of the United States Department of Commerce.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Chang.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov