Base thefts were progressive, witness says
By Kevin Murphy
Special to the Journal Sentinel
March 5, 1997
Madison -- After bribing a Fort McCoy employee to release damaged vehicles to
him, a Hudson man
began helping himself to operable vehicles, a witness testified Tuesday in
the second day of a $13
million military vehicle theft case.
Leo A. "Tony" Piatz, 37, gave Range Safety Officer Donald E. Crandall Jr. a
$30,000 bribe in 1994 to
remove the remnants of Sherman tanks that had been used as artillery practice
targets and were left to
rust on firing ranges at the base, Crandall testified.
The tank hulks leaked oil and antifreeze and were an environmental concern
because they were close
to the La Crosse River, which flowed through the center of a large firing
range on the western
Wisconsin base.
Piatz told Crandall that he would use the salvaged parts to restore other
Shermans, venerable World
War II battle tanks.
Crandall said he used Piatz's interest in restoring Sherman tanks to give
their thievery legitimacy.
Crandall knew the Army gave equipment to the Center of Military History, VFW
posts and other non-
profit organizations interested in preserving the past.
Crandall, who faced nearly a dozen counts, agreed to testify against Piatz
after pleading guilty to
converting government property to his own use. Sentencing is scheduled for
Crandall next month.
Piatz is charged with 11 counts that together carry a maximum penalty of 125
years in prison and $2.75
million in fines. The charges include bribery, conspiracy and conversion of
government property.
The stolen equipment included 17 armored personnel carriers. Federal
officials have called it the
largest known theft of combat equipment from a U.S. military base. Piatz and
Crandall were among
seven men charged in the thefts.
Piatz's interest soon turned from historic to commercially valuable vehicles,
including 10-year-old
Jeeps stored near a firing range, Crandall said.
"I wasn't authorized to release them (either), but I felt a few Jeeps isn't
going to hurt anything,"
Crandall said.
Piatz's passion for the military equipment disgusted Crandall, he said, when
Piatz phoned to say he
took two heavy duty bridge-hauling trucks that were in good condition without
asking and needed
memos to authorize the illegal acquisition.
Crandall later learned that Piatz was getting vehicles from Range Maintenance
Officer Dennis
Lambert. Lambert had introduced Piatz to Crandall and helped Piatz steal the
vehicles by lending him
a flatbed trailer and loading it with vehicles for him, Crandall said.
Lambert, who was indicted with Piatz and Crandall, will stand trial in June
with four others.