Former Navy member who stole military gear for illegal international sale sentenced

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A former U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class has been sentenced for a conspiracy in which he stole over $850,000 in military gear and sold it to buyers in foreign countries.

Richard Allen, 53, of California, was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in federal prison by a Providence U.S. District Court judge.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering charges on August 29.

While stationed at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex in Williamsburg, VA, Allen stole $856,433 worth of uniforms, soft body armor, goggles, small arms protective insert plates and other gear.

These items were stored in various locations, including Rhode Island.

Stolen items were then sold in bulk to buyers in China, Russia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and over two dozen other countries.

Payments were sent to Allen via PayPal, including dozens of payments from an account in China, and were always in increments of under $10,000 to avoid bank reporting requirements.

Allen continued heading up the conspiracy and receiving payments after he retired from the U.S. Navy.