Jefferson City man indicted in alleged conspiracy to steal and sell military equipment
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (KMIZ)
A Jefferson City man is one of three people accused this week of working together to steal and sell military equipment.
Brandon Schulte, 43, was among the men indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges that they conspired to steal and sell military uniforms, tactical robots, high-frequency radios and other equipment, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Jody "Joe" Stambaugh, 50, of Nashville, Illinois, and Gary Stambaugh, 77, of Fayetteville, Ill., were also indicted.
The indictment alleges the Stambaughs were co-owners of a scrap metal company in Mascoutah, Illinois, that was a subcontractor for the Department of Defense for facilities including Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and a National Guard post in Jefferson City.
The Stambaughs allegedly took military items that were supposed to be destroyed and used them or sold them to others. Joe Stambaugh sold several items to a person identified only as J.S., including LED video screens, a radio, night vision sights and military flight helmets, the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release.
The indictment also alleges the Stambaughs submitted false documents saying the items were destroyed. Schulte allegedly provided them with military equipment from the National Guard facility between 2015 and 2018. He is also accused of lying to federal agents in 2019.
The Stambaughs and Schulte are set to be arraigned Sept. 1. Schulte could be sentenced to five years in prison for each of the two charges against him.
