Henderson Man Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Selling Stolen U.S. Military Ammunition, Smoke Grenades And Equipment

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson, Nevada man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison and two years supervised release for selling military-issued ammunition, smoke grenades, and other equipment stolen from the U.S. Air Force, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Temogen Tran Noguni, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 18, 2017, to one count of unauthorized sale of property of the United States. Co-defendants Jonathan Owens, 27, a Staff Sergeant at Nellis Air Force Base Nevada, and Daniel Schwartz, 42, both previously pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

According to the plea agreement, Noguni admitted that, from August 2015 to November 2015, he purchased from Owens stolen smoke grenades; body armor plate carrier vests; a red dot optical rifle scope; a set of night vision binoculars and goggles; and military ammunition to include 9mm, 5.56x45mm, and .50 caliber cartridges, all from Nellis Air Force Base Nevada. The .50 caliber ammunition, which is not available for sale to the general public, is armor-piercing incendiary ammunition designed to pierce the shell of armored vehicles and explode inside. Noguni then listed the items for sale on the Internet.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared L. Grimmer prosecuted the case.

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