Marine One Parts Thief Pleads Guilty

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Stafford man has confessed to pilfering nearly $100,000 worth of sensitive military equipment from the very unit responsible for whisking the President of the United States around. Branden Roy Baker, 34, pleaded guilty today to a scheme that saw him systematically looting Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1).

The heist, which spanned from approximately September 2013 to April 2015, involved the theft of at least 51 image intensifier tubes and other critical night vision components. The total value of the stolen goods: a staggering $94,392. Baker didn’t keep the loot for himself; he allegedly hawked it to unsuspecting buyers online.

According to court documents, Baker wasn’t operating in the shadows. He actively sought out potential customers on eBay.com and conducted negotiations via email, effectively running a black market operation right under the noses of those tasked with protecting the nation. The brazenness of the scheme is raising questions about security protocols at the highly sensitive HMX-1 unit.

Baker pleaded guilty to theft of government property, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars. While the maximum is steep, federal sentencing guidelines often result in lighter penalties. Judge Leonie M. Brinkema is scheduled to hand down the sentence on August 11th, taking into account those guidelines and other relevant factors.

The bust was the result of a joint investigation led by U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jeremy Gauthier, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Washington D.C. Field Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andres E. Vasquez and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Rich are prosecuting the case, hoping to send a message that stealing from the military won’t be tolerated.

Court documents related to the case, including the full plea agreement, are available online through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, searchable by Case No. 1:15-cr-91 on PACER. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.

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