Soldier sentenced for selling $2 million worth of military equipment
Christopher Hammond, 38, is a Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the Army. He abused his position via ordering military equipment for his unit. However, instead of recording the items into the proper inventories, he sold them. Over the two-year period that he conducted this scheme, he received $1.8 million via wire transfers. He also received other methods of payment. A federal judge sentenced Hammond to three years in prison. Hammond must also pay $500,000 in restitution and forfeiture.
From Military Times:
“Hammond stole and then sold military scopes, weapons parts, tools, night vision goggles and ATVs meant to support our troops in the fight for freedom,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Through his scheme, he had hoped to retire in style. Instead, he will be spending the next three years in prison.”
Over a two-year period, Hammond used his position at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, since renamed Fort Liberty, to requisition government property for his unit. But Hammond never logged the property into Army inventory and instead sold the items to various individuals, according to court documents.
During that time, Hammond received at least $1.8 million in wire transfers and other payments. When police searched his home, they seized 98 firearms, 90 military-issued spotting scopes, hundreds of other military-issued firearms accessories, night vision goggles, electronic equipment and more than $100,000 in cash, according to the release.
“This sentencing sends a stark warning to those who put greed above their sworn duty,” stated Christopher Dillard, special agent in charge of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office.
Investigators traced 200 items sold by Hammond or at his home that should have been issued to his unit.
Additional reading:
South, T. (2024, July 26). Army warrant officer sentenced for selling $2 million in stolen gear. Military Times. Link.
Category: "Teh Stoopid", Crime, Veterans in the news
He got 3 years in a fed pen and a $500k fine??? That for stealing $1.8 million. There is no mention of recovering the money so if he put it offshore I imagine he’ll be retired once he gets out.
They said he made $1.8M, the fine is likely for the value of the equipment that is missing… slightly inflated for retail sale. It sounds like he was having issues selling the weapons if they found 98 at his house, unless those were mostly his and he sold the rest. I don’t see a selling firearms without a license charge, so maybe his gun show partner went missing.
I would think the ATF would have wanted a piece of that action.
Eric Holder is waiting for his cut…
They’re still waiting on a no-knock warrant
Supply types “selling” supplies? Telling me something I don’t know. On my ship, New boots, coverall, and other items were “sold” to the highest bidder while underway. “What? Heading over to NAVEX after watch? I got a pair of size 12’s right here…for the right price…”
It’s like that story I heard in the Navy, where cooks tried to exit the ship with a seabag full of frozen meats and formal dinner buffet items. Folks were stealing from the ship as part of a scheme to run their own catering business. Luckily, those standing watch recognized the sound that frozen meat makes when falling or colliding with something. They also recognized the sounds of banquet equipment.
There was another account, where folks involved with the ship store decided to rob the ship store. However, they couldn’t agree on what they should do next. It got to the point to where one guy shot the other guy.
Back in the day when Hack Stone was finishing Comm School and his brother Rollin Stone just started Comm School, one of Rollin’s classmates did what every stupid E-1 does and married his High School sweetheart, and brought her out to 29 Stumps. So as a wedding gift, all of his classmates stole one piece of cutlery or dinnerware from the chowhall.
That’s actually rather heartwarming!
That’s a damn fooken pretty lax property and logistics management system.
Literally, the local Taco Bell does it better.
He just couldn’t be happy with drinking coffee, ghosting and being bitter.
He HAD to push it.
It was either this, or an Herbalife franchise to supplement his income. You have to ask yourself WWPMD (What Would Phil Monkress Do)?
What a twatwaffle. He got caught because he was double dipping fraud by sending the stolen items in for fake repairs on accounts his wife (an Army Major) was in charge of.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/army-officer-sentenced-theft-government-property-and-ordered-pay-half-million-dollars
One would think drawing down O4 and CW3 pay would be enough. They should have been clearing over $200k a year. Pure unvarnished criminal greed.
I’ve always wondered what warrant officers do
Time, apparently.
LOL!
Enjoy prison, dude.
He’ll probably sell that too.
“Christopher Hammond, 38 is a dumbass that royally phuqued up and could’ve been on the SPoTW Thread.” There…fixed it for you. Somehow, I don’t think that he will have unlimited coffee and roaming privileges at his next duty station.
“Christopher Hammond, 38,
isWAS a Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the Army.”There. Fixed it for ya. Yer welcome.
OFF TOPIC;
I heard on the radio and looked it up on the PC that the local Police at the rally offered the secret service drone use and the secret service turned it down. Cuba, CIA, secret service agent in the rear seat of JFK’s car, Navy Doc saw the head wound/wounds and Doc was removed from the room and the body was removed without further ado…
My opinion is this was a planned hit on Trump. CNN just happened to be there, ala Roger Stone. No other Trump rallies are televised, but this one. And during prime time no less.
Received more than $1.8 million and must repay $500,000 in restitution. $1.3 million profit. Who says crime doesn’t pay? It’s paying him $433,333 for each year in prison.
$1,300,000 can buy a lot of ramen and I Can’t Believe It’s Not KY Jelly from the prison commissary.
Three years in Federal prison? Sure hope that job offer from All Points Logistics will be waiting for him when he gets out.
It will be a bidding war between A.P.L. and A.W.W.P. for his services.
He was the PBO for the 3d SFG. His wife (an O-4 ROTC Instructor at Campbell University) was also in on the deal. It all fell apart when one of the suppliers saw items that were purchased under a government contract were being sent in for warranty repairs by a private individual.
What did his sweetie get for her role, or has her court date not been set. Does spousal immunity count here?
“Hammond’s wife, Major Heather Hammond, was also charged by the government, but was ultimately acquitted by a jury.”
[quote from 5jC’s link above]
Missed it. My grandson came by and the dog always happy to see him. It gets kinda noisy when a 4yo and the puppy start chasing each other.
M&M Enterprises– “And everybody has a share.”
I would’ve expected a CW3 to run a much smoother operation.
This is what happens when you don’t pay tribute to the E-4 Mafia.
That’s if they actually exist…
String this jerk up by his empty nutsack.
He blew his cover by showing up to a PT formation.
Did he think he was in the Russian military?