Benjamin Guidry, a 41-year-old North Dakota man, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for his role in the theft of copper wire from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The conviction marked the end of a long-standing investigation into the theft of valuable materials from the airfield.
Guidry was working for a local Afghan company in February 2013 when he solicited two civilian contractors at Kandahar Airfield to obtain various materials for him in exchange for cash. The contractors, however, reported Guidry to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command (Army CID) at Kandahar Airfield.
With the assistance of the U.S. Air Force and others, Army CID set up a sting operation to catch Guidry in the act. According to the evidence presented at trial, as part of the sting operation, Guidry offered one of the contractors $4,000 in exchange for help stealing spools of copper wire worth approximately $54,000.
Guidry was apprehended after leaving the Air Force compound with the copper wire. Army CID investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Air Force. The trial was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Frank Rangoussis and Ann Marie Ursini of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that Guidry’s actions were a serious breach of trust and a threat to national security. The conviction serves as a reminder that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable for their actions.
Guidry’s sentence is a result of his conviction for theft of government property. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the need to deter others from engaging in similar activities.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco and U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers of the District of North Dakota commended the efforts of the investigators and prosecutors who worked on the case.
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Key Facts
- State: North Dakota
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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