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The official tasked with overseeing the Army's supply and logistics center at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah was charged Wednesday with stealing from the stockpile of equipment he managed.
Federal prosecutors say Phillip Tomac stole equipment worth more than $1,000, including military-grade optics, between June 2012 and this past month.
He is charged in U.S. District Court in Utah with felony theft of government property. The charges give little detail about the government's case against Tomac, and an Army spokesman said the investigation is ongoing.
"This is still fairly new," said Robert Saxon, a spokesman for Dugway. "This [investigation] has only gone on for two weeks now as far as Dugway's knowledge."
Saxon said the stolen optics included rifle scopes.
Tomac was removed from his position shortly after Dugway officials learned of the DOJ investigation, Saxon said. He remains an unpaid military employee.
Saxon said Tomac began working as a civilian at the supply and logistics center at Dugway in October 2010. In January 2013, Tomac took over as the center's director, tasked with overseeing anything at the center related to logistics of supplies — from vehicles, clothing and other equipment used at the range.
"The investigation is early on," Saxon said. "This is involving Army investigators, Air Force investigators and other agencies such as the FBI."
Tomac won't be arrested before his initial appearance, which is set for March 15 before Judge Paul Warner, said Melodie Rydalch, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Charges could always be added later, if investigators find additional evidence, Rydalch said.
"If additional evidence is developed what we would do is present a superseding indictment to the grand jury," she said.
Tomac didn't immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, and the charges didn't note whether he had an attorney.
If convicted on the theft of government property charge, Tomac could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, Rydalch said.
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