On July 22, 2010, Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Copeland, was found guilty by a court martial trial in Ft. Dix, New Jersey on charges of violating Article 92 (Dereliction of Duty) and Article 121 (Larceny) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and was sentenced to 120 days confinement, $14,000 fine, and reduction in rank.
Previously, on April 15, 2009, Copeland was arrested without incident at his residence by Special Agents from GSA OIG’s Northeast and Caribbean Regional Office and DCIS Special Agents pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on a charge of violating 18 USC 641, Theft of Government Property. Copeland consented to a search of his residence and evidence of theft of government property was seized. Copeland was released on a $30,000 personal recognizance bond. On October 1, 2009, the U.S. Attorney’s Office deferred prosecution of Copeland to the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General office at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey.
This joint investigation revealed that Copeland had made numerous purchases for the U.S. Army, Ft. Totten, Queens, New York, from the GSA Advantage program since 2006, and sold those items on Ebay. A review of Copeland’s Ebay activity revealed that items matched what he previously purchased from the GSA Advantage program with U.S. Army funds. The approximate loss to the Government was $80,000.
