An Alabama man has been convicted for his role in a scheme that involved selling stolen military weapons stored at the Anniston Army Depot.
Steve Bonner, 62, of Goodwater, in Coosa County, acted as a middleman in the scheme by selling the stolen goods to buyers and delivering the items to the owner of a military surplus store in Sylacauga, prosecutors said when Bonner and others, including two army depot police officers, were indicted in May.
The stolen items included equipment that was designed to be attached to military weapon systems to provide operators with instant nighttime engagement capabilities and/or improved target acquisition.
Bonner was convicted Thursday by a federal jury in Birmingham on one count of conspiracy to steal government property, said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona on Monday.
The equipment was designed to be attached to military weapon systems to provide users with the ability to use the weapons at night or improve their ability to acquire a target, prosecutors said.
Nine other defendants pleaded guilty in connection to the case:
Eric Matraia, 54, of Munford, pleaded guilty in February 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
Stantillio Whitfield, 44, of Anniston, pleaded guilty in November 2022 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
Tevin Fletcher, 33, of Oxford, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
Jerry Baker, 63, of Hokes Bluff, pleaded guilty in May 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
James Kenneth Scott, 72, pleaded guilty in January 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
Christopher Price, 55, of Childersburg, pleaded guilty in January 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
Scott Bunch, 53, of Alexandria, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property in October.
Shane Farthing, 41, of Gadsden, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
Kelvin Battle, 53, of Anniston, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to conspiracy to steal United States property.
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