Former enlistee indicted for theft from U.S. Army

HOUSTON – A 26-year-old Houston man has been charged with selling stolen government property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

Tamoshion Rucker is a former U.S. Army enlistee who allegedly stole and attempted to sell Image Intensifier Tubes (IITs) for personal gain, according to the indictment.

The charges allege the investigation began in December 2022 when authorities attempted to retrieve stolen ITTs that were posted for sale on eBay.  

These IITs were allegedly manufactured to fulfill government contracts which are not available or authorized for sale to the public.

As stated in the indictment, to safeguard this technology and equipment, IITs require demilitarization at the end-of-life cycle use. The instructions allegedly involve striking them with a ball peen hammer, ensuring destruction and for the fragments to be disposed of in accordance with hazardous waste guidelines.

IITs cannot be resold or otherwise transferred to anyone after they have been used, according to the charges. 

He was permitted release upon posting bond pending further criminal proceedings. 

If convicted, Rucker faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

The FBI and Army Criminal Investigative Division conducted the investigation with assistance from Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Ferko is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.