FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
June 17, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANNAPOLIS MAN INDICTED IN SCHEME TO STEAL AND RECYCLE OVER $300,000 WORTH OF COPPER CABLE
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has indicted Levon Smith, age 54, of Annapolis, Maryland, for theft of government property in connection with a scheme to steal and recycle copper cables and other wire used in foreign military operations, valued at over $300,000. The indictment was returned on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. Smith was arrested today and had his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore this afternoon at 2:45 p.m.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Robert Craig of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
According to the five count indictment, Smith was a Senior Material Control Analyst at AAI Corporation, which provides innovative aerospace and defense technologies, including unmanned aircraft to the U.S. government and other entities. According to the indictment, the U.S. government purchased remote vehicle terminal cables and copper cables, and after purchase stored this government equipment at AAI. AAI contracted with the U.S. government to install the cable in U.S. property, including Drones, and to help supply these materials to U.S. military units overseas. The Drones support foreign military operations.
The indictment alleges that from about June 2008 until October 2009, Smith took terminal cable and copper cable stored at AAI and sold the cables to a recycling center for cash. Specifically, the indictment alleges that on five occasions from March 7, 2009 through July 3, 2009, Smith stole and sold to a recycling center copper cable and terminal cable worth more than $300,000.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of $300,000, alleged to be the proceeds of the scheme.
Smith faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for theft of government property.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended officials at AAI for their assistance in this investigation and prosecution and thanked Assistant United States Attorney Harry M. Gruber, who is prosecuting the case.