Zachary Sizemore allegedly sold at least 38 pieces of military equipment on eBay for $50,000 from July 2013 until November 2016. The most recent online sales were of night vision goggles and thermal monoculars, according to a complaint and affidavit written by an agent with the Dept. of Defense Criminal Investigative Service.
After a hearing Tuesday in Dayton’s federal court, Sizemore was released on his own recognizance, but he was ordered to report next week to the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn for his arraignment. The maximum punishment for theft of government equipment worth more than $1,000 is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sizemore is described in the affidavit as a SF Armorer responsible for military equipment and night vision devices. The affidavit said Sizemore’s performance reviews indicated he was responsible for more than $2.9 million of equipment and that he reconfigured the arms room.
WPAFB officials on Wednesday refused to answer any questions about Sizemore’s job or status, referring queries to the federal prosecutors office in Eastern District of New York.
Sizemore was arrested by Homeland Security, which is cooperating with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations in investigating the theft and sale of military equipment without authorization.
The affidavit indicates Sizemore’s duties include serving as a liason with civilian and military law enforcement, escoring munitions shipments, performing inspections and controlling entry into restricted areas.
Sizemore was trained as a Tactical Automated Security System (TASS) operator, which refers to an Air Force intrusion detection and surveillance system used for security monitoring around fixed-site airbases, semi-permanent Forward Operating Bases and other mobile tactical deployments, according to court documents.
On June 9, 2016 after a search warrant signed by a U.S. Magistrate Judge in New Jersey, federal agents seized a parcel bearing the sender name of Zachary Sizemore. The affidavit said its contents included a Harris Corp. Army/Navy PVS-7D night-vision goggle with a Generation 3 image intensifier tube.
Records from eBay show Sizmore sold it for $1,713.45. Another search warrant netted a parcel with an L-3 Commuications Cop. Mini-Thermal Monocular (MTM) that he sold for $3,450, documents show.
In October, an undercover agent engaged Sizemore in dialogue after purchasing an MTM for $4,055. Special agent Eric Maryea wrote that Sizemore created postings for and/or attempted to sell 45 pieces of night vision or thermal equipment in a three-year time frame, according to records from eBay and PayPal.
The equipment included night vision goggles, infrared aiming lights, red dot sights, monoculars and other aiming or sights devices. At least 38 items were sold for about $50,000.
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