A former Navy Petty Officer First Class with over 20 years of service was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Thursday, November 21, for orchestrating an audacious scheme that saw over $850,000 worth of military gear stolen and sold to buyers in more than 50 countries, including adversarial nations like China and Russia.
Richard Allen, 53, of Citrus Heights, California, once entrusted with safeguarding military assets, exploited his position to betray his oath, his colleagues, and his country.
US Attorney Zachary A. Cunha emphasized in a press release statement the gravity of Allen’s actions, stating:
“Sworn to serve his country, Richard Allen instead chose to serve his own shameless greed at the expense of the taxpayer and his fellow men and women in uniform.”
A Scheme Born of Greed
While stationed at the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex in Virginia, Allen leveraged his unrestricted access to warehouse stockpiles to steal a wide array of military supplies.
Items included working uniforms, soft body armor, flame-retardant gear, and Small Arms Protective Insert plates, all crucial to mission readiness and warfighter safety.
The stolen items, many of which bore strategic and operational significance, were smuggled out of the facility and stored in secret locations, including Rhode Island.
Allen then arranged for their sale and shipment to domestic and international buyers.
A former Navy Petty Officer First Class with over 20 years of service was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Thursday, November 21, for orchestrating an audacious scheme that saw over $850,000 worth of military gear stolen and sold to buyers in more than 50 countries, including adversarial nations like China and Russia.
Richard Allen, 53, of Citrus Heights, California, once entrusted with safeguarding military assets, exploited his position to betray his oath, his colleagues, and his country.
US Attorney Zachary A. Cunha emphasized in a press release statement the gravity of Allen’s actions, stating:
“Sworn to serve his country, Richard Allen instead chose to serve his own shameless greed at the expense of the taxpayer and his fellow men and women in uniform.”
A Scheme Born of Greed
While stationed at the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex in Virginia, Allen leveraged his unrestricted access to warehouse stockpiles to steal a wide array of military supplies.
Items included working uniforms, soft body armor, flame-retardant gear, and Small Arms Protective Insert plates, all crucial to mission readiness and warfighter safety.
The stolen items, many of which bore strategic and operational significance, were smuggled out of the facility and stored in secret locations, including Rhode Island.
Allen then arranged for their sale and shipment to domestic and international buyers.
Global Network of Buyers
The scope of Allen’s operation spanned 50 countries, highlighting both the scale of the conspiracy and the potential national security risks involved.
Payments flowed through platforms like PayPal, including transactions from accounts based in China. The financial proceeds were then funneled into co-conspirators’ bank accounts in sums designed to evade detection.
“Allen’s actions not only undermined the trust placed in him as a service member but also threatened warfighter capabilities and readiness,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Wiest of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
Even in retirement, Allen continued orchestrating the scheme and collecting payments, as noted in the press release.
One of his accomplices, Matthew Thomas Deleo, was apprehended in December 2015. He later pleaded guilty to three charges in 2018 and received a sentence of “time served” (roughly 19 months), three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution totaling around $867,000, court records reveal.
Sentencing and Fallout
Allen’s sentence, handed down by US District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., includes three years of federal supervision following his prison term.
The 52-year-old Navy veteran pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and money laundering on August 29, 2024.
Officials involved in the case made clear that this outcome underscores a zero-tolerance stance for crimes that jeopardize national security.
“Profiting from the sale of stolen DoD property betrays the public’s trust and negatively impacts our military members,” Patrick J. Hegarty of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) noted, adding, “Today’s sentencing demonstrates DCIS’ ongoing commitment to working with its law enforcement partners to hold individuals who harm the DoD accountable.”
National Security at Stake
The stolen gear found its way into countries with varying levels of US diplomatic relations, including Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, and Ukraine.
Some of the buyers, such as those in China, represent direct strategic competitors to the US military.
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Michael J. Krol underscored the seriousness of these actions, stating:
“Allen was driven by greed… to endanger the very national security he was sworn to uphold.”
The case involved a collaborative investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Commerce, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reflecting the high priority placed on protecting military assets.
A Stark Warning
US Attorney Cunha’s closing remarks, as stated in the press release, send a clear warning: “Stealing from the United States is a path to prison, not profit.” The sentence marks an effort to restore accountability and safeguard trust within the military ranks.
This case serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of vigilance within the defense community and the catastrophic consequences when loyalty to the country is sacrificed for personal gain.
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