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Defense Contractors Accused of Stealing Medical Equipment from Marines Sentenced

The stolen equipment included anesthesia machines, autoclaves, ventilators, ultrasound machines, defibrillators and laryngoscopes, among others.

Two defense contractors were sentenced in federal court Friday for stealing medical equipment intended for deployed marines.

"This isn’t the theft of pencils and pens," U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo told the defendants at their hearing.

Henry Bonilla, 29, of Pomona, and Richard Navarro, 44, of Oceanside, were sentenced to 15 months and 12 months in prison, respectively, for conspiring to steal more than $3 million worth of medical equipment from Camp Pendleton, confirmed the U.S. Attorney.

The judge ordered Bonilla to forfeit two vehicles and $172,850 and Navarro to forfeit $49,210 in ill-gotten gains.

Bonilla and Navarro were charged with conspiracy to engage in theft of government property. They faced a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

With the help of their co-conspirators, Bonilla and Navarro stole expensive medical equipment from 1st Medical Logistics Company (1st MEDLOG) aboard Camp Pendleton. The list of medical devices they stole included anesthesia machines, autoclaves, ventilators, ultrasound machines, defibrillators and laryngoscopes, among others.

The military had planned to ship this equipment overseas to treat injured service members, according to the U.S. Attorney.

"This medical equipment was meant for U.S. troops. This type of theft is outrageous and puts our troops at risk. I hope this sentence will send a message to people in government in positions of trust," said Judge Bencivengo.

Bonilla, Navarro and their co-conspirators worked as civilian defense contractors in warehouses run by 1st MEDLOG, a company that provides important medical equipment to combat forces worldwide.

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