A federal judge sentenced a former Aberdeen Proving Ground supervisor to 18 months in prison yesterday and ordered him to sell an $81,000 toy collection bought with money bilked from the Army facility.
Proceeds from the collection, which includes dozens of model John Deere tractors, is part of the $100,000 restitution that Donald R. Wilson must pay, said Judge Marvin J. Garbis of U.S. District Court in Baltimore.
Prosecutors said Wilson, 47, and Raymond K. Gerry, 30, stole about $286,000 during eight years through a phony billing scheme. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal government property.
"Basically the judge told [Wilson], 'Go sell your toys,' " said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Evans. "They're miniature model tractors that he kept in glass cases. They're very delicate and very breakable, but they're worth quite a bit."
The toys were displayed as part of a collection at Wilson's Delta, Pa., home. The models, including some antiques worth $4,000 apiece, are to be sold when Wilson finishes his prison term.
At the time of the thefts, Wilson was a supervisor in the proving ground's Buildings, Grounds and Utilities division. Gerry was a sales representative for General Plumbing Supply Co., a Baltimore wholesaler that sold plumbing and heating supplies.
TC Investigators said the men devised a plan to buy various items -- not only toys, but also a refrigerator, tanning bed and motorcycle parts -- and arrange for bills to be sent to the proving ground.
Administrators at the military facility were led to believe that they were paying for plumbing materials, prosecutors said.
Gerry of Edgewood is believed to have received a much smaller share of the stolen money, prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty Jan. 18 and was sentenced to eight months in jail and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution.
Wilson, who has resigned from his job at the proving ground, will report to a federal prison within 30 days to begin serving his sentence. Upon release, he will be under court-supervised probation for three years.
Meanwhile, the toys are being held by the FBI and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, a government agency that investigates crimes involving defense contractors.