Sanford Brothers Arrested for Conspiring to Steal Government Property

ORLANDO—United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces the arrests of Husein Kermali (37) and Sikandar Kermali (33), both from Sanford, Florida, for conspiring to steal government property. If convicted, both men face up to five years in federal prison.

According to the criminal complaint, while employed in the United States Army Active Guard Reserve, co-conspirator Sebastian Stewart Oyegun II, made unauthorized purchases of high-end engineering equipment, computer equipment, and power tools. Oyegun charged the goods to the United States Army and shipped the goods to various addresses. The purchases were made over the Internet using the General Services Administration (GSA) Advantage System website. The site is an ordering mechanism whereby government agencies or contractors can order items from vendors. Oyegun manipulated the purchasing system by fraudulently creating a phony user ID and password, providing phony points of contact and fake approving officials, and adding multiple shipping addresses. Most of the stolen goods were shipped to Oyegun’s residence or a warehouse in Sanford controlled by the Kermali brothers. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the Kermalis would select items they wanted from the GSA Advantage System website and e-mail their requests to Oyegun, paying him a fraction of the advertised price.

After the U.S. Army uncovered the scheme, Oyegun began cooperating with the FBI and participated in a number of controlled meetings with the Kermalis. On at least three occasions, Oyegun delivered stolen goods to the Kermalis at their Sanford warehouse in his U.S. Army Combat Uniform.

The Kermalis requested Surefire weapon sights, EOTech Holographic tactical weapon sights, and Trijicon gun sights from Oyegun and asked him if he could send items to Dubai. Sikandar Kermali also asked Oyegun for armor piecing ammunition and sent Oyegun a text message asking for more “war stuff.”

Oyegun pleaded guilty to his role in this case. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 28, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell.

A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Army Criminal Investigative Command, the General Services Administration-Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Commerce-Office of Export Enforcement. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel W. Eckhart.