A former Red River Army Depot inspector pleaded guilty Thursday to theft of vehicle parts that cost the government more than $700,000.
Jason Allen Autrey, 36, carried off Hawker batteries and Bradley bolt-on armor kits worth at least $762,000 while working for the depot as a heavy mobile equipment mechanic inspector in the dynamometer section of the maintenance directorate, according to a factual basis used to create the following account. Autrey took the parts on "an almost daily basis," from at least July 13, 2015, to at least May 5, 2016.
Once he removed the equipment from RRAD property, Autrey took the stolen goods to Tri-State Iron and Metal in Texarkana, Ark., and sold them for scrap. Autrey pocketed $22,959.84 in cash from selling the parts to Tri-State but is expected to owe restitution to the government for the full value of the missing property.
Autrey changed his plea to guilty with the help of Texarkana lawyer David James at a hearing Thursday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas. Autrey, who is currently free on a $10,000 unsecured appearance bond, will return to Texarkana's downtown federal building for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III in several months. Sentencing will be scheduled once the court has received a report including a recommendation for punishment under federal guidelines.
Autrey faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000, or both. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross is handling the case for the government.