1. No HMMWVs were mentioned.
2. No M151s or "jeeps" were mentioned.
3. Most of the equipment has been returned to Ft. McCoy.
4. This was large scale fraud; the bad guys were caught and now convicted.
5. It all took place in 1994 - 1996 so has nothing to do with equipment in the
market before that.
Nothing about this case justifies persecution or intimidation of individual
collectors.
fyi,
chuck
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Tank thief convicted for largest military rip-off ever
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Copyright ¸ 1997 The Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (Mar 11, 1997 4:02 p.m. EST) -- A military surplus dealer was
convicted Tuesday of masterminding the biggest theft of fighting equipment ever
from a U.S. base -- a $13 million heist that included a tank and 17 armored
personnel carriers.
Leo Anthony Piatz, nicknamed "Tanker Tony," was found guilty on all counts of
conspiracy, bribery and conversion of government property.
Piatz, 37, could get up to 125 years in prison and $2.75 million in fines at
sentencing next month.
Prosecutors said Piatz used bribes, phony documents and help from six
accomplices to drive off with at least 153 vehicles from Fort McCoy, 95 miles
northwest of Madison. Five others charged in the scheme face trial in June.
In addition to a Vietnam-era Sheridan tank and the personnel carriers, the
stolen vehicles included an airport runway snowblower truck, a crane and other
heavy equipment. They were taken between 1994 and 1996.
Although no missiles or other weapons were stolen, launchers for TOW anti-tank
missiles were mounted on some of the armored personnel carriers.
There was no evidence any of the equipment ended up in the hands of extremist
groups or hostile governments. Instead, prosecutors said the vehicles were
stold to museums and collectors.
Other deals included the sale of the runway snowblower to a Colorado ski resort
for $53,900. Piatz was also accused of trying to lease a missile launcher to
20th Century Fox for use in filming the Desert Storm movie "Courage Under
Fire," but the studio decided against the deal.
On the stand, Piatz portrayed himself as a farmer, trucker and hobbyist who
thought he had permission to remove the vehicles in exchange for cleaning a
target range.
Defense attorney Steven Pihlaja said in closing arguments his client's only
motivation was "to preserve military history."
Pentagon agent Hal Strickland testified that he posed as a government surplus
consultant and that Piatz asked him to help create paperwork justifying his
possession of the vehicles. Strickland said Piatz told him he made $600,000 in
one year dealing Fort McCoy equipment.
Another key government witness was Donald Crandall, the base's range safety
officer. He pleaded guilty in the scheme and testified for the prosecution,
saying he faked paperwork for Piatz in exchange for $38,000 in bribes.
Most of the equipment has been returned to Fort McCoy.