A federal jury has convicted a former U.S. Army civilian contractor of stealing more than 200 pallets of military Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) valued at approximately $1.12 million from Fort Bliss, federal prosecutors announced.
Joseph Lavar Davis, 47, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of government property and theft of government property following a trial in El Paso, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
The case is being prosecuted in support of the Trump administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Scheme Lasted Nearly Six Months
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Davis and three co-defendants committed the thefts between February 24, 2020, and August 12, 2020.
Prosecutors said Davis, a retired Army food service supply specialist who later worked as a civilian contractor in a similar role, exploited his knowledge of the military’s supply system to fraudulently obtain the MREs.
Evidence presented at trial showed Davis created false requests to obtain the military rations, rented trucks to transport the pallets from Fort Bliss, and either picked them up himself or arranged for others to retrieve them. He also coordinated deliveries, negotiated sales prices, and collected payments.
Authorities said the operation relied on false paperwork, truck rentals, communications among the co-conspirators, and financial transactions tied to the stolen goods.
The indictment alleged that each participant had a specific role, including a civilian contractor familiar with the requisition process, a soldier who helped transport the MREs, an intermediary who connected the buyers and sellers, and a civilian who sold the rations online.
Investigation Led To Warehouse Discovery
The scheme unraveled on August 12, 2020, when FBI agents and investigators with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant at a civilian warehouse in El Paso.
Investigators recovered about 100 pallets of MREs and determined the warehouse operator had been purchasing the military rations from individuals who stole them from Fort Bliss.
Officials Praise Investigation
“Joseph Davis betrayed the very country he once swore to protect in an effort to satisfy his own selfish ambition and a jury of his peers held him accountable for it,” U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons said in a statement.
“Rooting out fraud that undermines our government and our military readiness is a priority of this administration. I want to thank our Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Lori Hughes and Mallory Rasmussen, as well as our support staff and law enforcement partners, for their excellent work in bringing this fraudster to justice. Their dedication resulted in a win for the Western District of Texas, a win for Justice, and a win for the American people.”
Jarod Brown, special agent in charge of the FBI’s El Paso Field Office, said the conviction demonstrates the commitment of federal investigators to protecting government property.
“This conviction should send a clear message the FBI and our law enforcement partners at the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division make it a priority to bring to justice those who resort to theft of government property for ill-gotten gain,” Brown said. “We are stronger when we work together to seek justice and will continue to combat these issues through strong partnerships.”
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Hughes and Mallory Rasmussen prosecuted the case.
The Department of Justice said the prosecution also supports the work of its National Fraud Enforcement Division, created in April to investigate and prosecute fraud against the federal government as part of the administration’s broader anti-fraud initiative.
Davis will receive his sentence at a later date.
