James Ratcliffe, 67, of Fairfax Station, Va., has admitted to orchestrating a scheme to steal and sell U.S. Department of State vehicles and equipment, pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of government property and wire fraud in federal court.
The auto shop manager for Car Collision Center in Springfield, Va., struck a deal with a corrupt State Department insider—identified only as ‘Person B’—to siphon off government assets under the guise of routine repair work. Together, they diverted a Hummer and 12 Chevrolet Suburbans from the State Department motor pool, selling them for $408,520 and splitting the proceeds.
On multiple occasions between 2011 and 2013, ‘Person B,’ an employee in the Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicle Division, shipped truckloads of State Department tires and wheels to Ratcliffe’s shop. He told Ratcliffe to sell them and keep the cash. Those sales brought in at least $7,500—all of it pocketed by the defendant.
In 2015, the conspiracy escalated when ‘Person B’ handed over two additional unarmored Suburbans, each valued at $48,200, totaling $96,400. Ratcliffe stored the vehicles at his business or home until federal investigators seized them during a raid. The total value of stolen property exceeds $512,420.
As part of his plea agreement, Ratcliffe must pay $416,020 in restitution and forfeit an identical sum. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he faces 18 to 24 months in prison and fines ranging from $4,000 to $40,000. A sentencing hearing is set for May 3, 2017, before Judge Amit P. Mehta in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The case was jointly investigated by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips stated the plea sends a clear message: ‘Government property is not for personal profit—those who exploit public trust will be held accountable.’
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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