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Press Release

Former CBP IT employee pleads guilty to stealing and attempting to sell 27 government computers

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Bristow man pled guilty today to theft of government property.

According to court documents, from at least Nov. 6, 2023, to Aug. 1, 2024, Xavier Mittakarin, 38, was an employee for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), assigned to a CBP facility in Lorton where 27 U.S. government laptop computers were stored.

On Dec. 13, 2023, Mittakarin removed the 27 laptops, valued at a total of over $67,000, from the facility, intending to sell them. On March 22, 2024, Mittakarin sold one of the laptops via eBay to a purchaser in California, who paid $2,803.26. On May 22 and May 27, Mittakarin sold eight more laptops via eBay to another purchaser in California, who paid a total of $16,706.76.

On Aug. 1, Mittakarin attempted to sell 18 laptops to another purchaser, who was actually an undercover officer, for approximately $28,000. Mittakarin brought the laptops to a prearranged meeting place and time, where he was arrested and the laptops were recovered from his vehicle.

Mittakarin is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 27, 2025. He faces up to 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kris Cline, Director of the Federal Protective Service; Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security; and Mattew Klein, Assistant Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the plea.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ryan is prosecuting the case. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Antara Saikat Joardar provided substantial assistance in the prosecution of the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-191.

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Updated October 23, 2024

Topic
Public Corruption