Stolen Motorcycles from Fort Bragg Nets Thief Federal Prison Time

RALEIGH—United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that in federal court yesterday Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III, sentenced JEFFREE J. STAPLES, 24, of Clarksville, Tennessee, to 12 months and one day imprisonment followed by two years’ supervised release. On June 15, 2011, a federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment charging STAPLES. On October 31, 2011, STAPLES pled guilty to larceny within a special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 661.

According to the investigation, STAPLES, along with his two co-defendants, Jessie Ray Switzer and Sheron A. Schley, stole two motorcycles from a parking lot on Fort Bragg on November 20, 2008. The day prior, STAPLES directed Switzer to rent a truck. After renting the truck, that same day, STAPLES and Switzer drove the truck onto Fort Bragg and parked it behind the barracks and left it. Early the next morning, STAPLES, Switzer and Schley returned to the truck. After randomly selecting two motorcycles, each valued at over $7,000, they loaded them into the truck. They then drove the truck to a Fayetteville apartment complex, where they off-loaded the motorcycles, covering them with a tarp. The following day the owner of one of the motorcycles realized the theft and contacted authorities. A LoJack tracking device had been installed on the bike. Authorities were able to find the bike which lead them to STAPLES and his co-defendants.

Both Switzer and Schley were charged, have pled guilty, and have been sentenced.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Fayetteville Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney (Captain) David A. Coleman, with the XVIII Airborne Corps, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, prosecuted the case.