Tampa, Florida - U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington today sentenced Scott Alan Bennett (40, Washington, D.C.) to three years in federal prison for lying to government officials to obtain housing on MacDill Air Force Base, as well as wearing a U.S. military uniform without authorization and violating a defense property security regulation with regard to firearms he had on MacDill Air Force Base. The Court also ordered Bennett to forfeit ten firearms and over 9,400 rounds of ammunition that he unlawfully possessed on MacDill Air Force Base.
Bennett was found guilty on all counts after a jury trial on July 21, 2011.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Bennett falsely held himself out as an active duty military member, although he was only working on MacDill Air Force Base as a civilian contractor. Further, Bennett told Base housing employees that he was an aide to Admiral Eric Olson of U.S. Special Operations Command, which is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base. Once he obtained on-base housing, Bennett possessed 10 guns and over 9,000 rounds of ammunition in his residence, which he failed to register as required by MacDill Air Force Base's security regulation.

This case was investigated by the Department of the Air Force Police, 6th Security Forces Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara C. Sweeney and Kelley C. Howard-Allen, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Captain Timothy Goines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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