WASHINGTON - Darryl Roger Lyles, 37, a resident of Capitol Heights, Maryland, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a scheme to steal and re-sell government laptop computers and other information technology equipment, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Irvine, and Alexandria Chief of Police David P. Baker announced today.

Lyles was arraigned this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and pleaded not guilty. His case is set for a status hearing before the Honorable Reggie B. Walton on November 14, 2008.

According to the indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury, between June 2006 and December 2007, Lyles stole or caused to be stolen at least 30 laptop computers and a projector from the Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) while he was working there as a contract information technology (“IT”) analyst. Lyles posted advertisements for these items on the San Francisco-based on-line classified site “craigslist.org.” Ten of these advertisements were posted from a computer located at GAO’s headquarters in the District of Columbia. During approximately September 2006, a person identified in the indictment as “D.P.” responded to one of the craigslist advertisements and began to purchase items from Lyles. D.P. purchased a projector, various computer parts, and at least 83 laptop computers from Lyles between September 2006 and December 2007. D.P. then re-sold all of these items on the on-line auction site E-bay.

The indictment charges Lyles with five counts: Wire Fraud, Theft of Government Property, Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property, Possession of Stolen Goods, and First Degree Theft. The indictment also alleges that Lyles forfeit of a sum of $43,344 to the government as the proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from these crimes; however, the amount of the loss attributable to the scheme may be much larger.

If convicted of the charges, Lyles faces a maximum of 60 years in prison and under the federal sentencing guidelines, he faces a likely sentencing range of 46-57 months of imprisonment.

 An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

In announcing the indictment, U.S. Attorney Taylor, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Irvine and Alexandria Chief of Police Baker commended the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents Ellen J. Ripperger and Duane A. Smith of the U.S. Secret Service; Detective Charlie Pak of the City of Alexandria, Virginia Police Department; Inspector Garrett P. Loughlin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Special Agent Marty Lewis of the GAO Office of Security. Also praised was the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Susan B. Menzer and John W. Borchert, who investigated this case, secured the indictment, and will prosecute the matter at trial.