Soldier, Schertz man admit stealing more than $1 million of military equipment

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) – An active duty soldier and a former federal government employee from Schertz have admitted  stealing and illegally selling more than $1 million worth of items from Camp Mabry in Austin.

Texas National Guardsman Cristal Avila of Fort Worth and 35-year-old
Joseph Mora of Schertz pleaded guilty this week to theft.

Avila and Mora admitted removing large quantities of sensitive military grade equipment, including rifle scopes, infrared laser-aiming devices and thermal night vision goggles, from the facility without authorization. Mora later sold many of the stolen items on eBay and by other means.

Last year, federal agents executed a search warrant at Mora’s residence and recovered dozens of items believed to be stolen from Camp Mabry, including pelican cases containing aiming lights, a pallet of night vision goggles and tripods.

The 27-year-old Texas National Guardsman and Mora face up to ten years in federal prison and have agreed to pay restitution to the government for the stolen items.   Both are out on bond pending
sentencing .