Tom Hunter
5 May 2000, 09:55
Navy SEAL Charged With Munitions Theft
By R.H. Melton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 3, 2000 ; B05
RICHMOND, May 2 –– The chief federal prosecutor for eastern Virginia announced the criminal indictment today of a U.S. Navy SEAL who allegedly sold an array of munitions, including grenades, mines and plastic explosives, to a gun dealer in the Interstate 95 corridor just south of here.
U.S. Attorney Helen F. Fahey said a grand jury indicted Jonathan Dean Cripe, 39, a member of the San-Diego based SEAL Team 5, for selling munitions "on several occasions" to Daniel Forrest Robinson, of Hopewell.
The two met at a gun show in 1994 when Cripe was stationed in Norfolk, the indictment said.
Neither Cripe nor his Richmond attorney could be reached by telephone for comment late today.
The indictment that Fahey released said Cripe made one of his first deliveries to Robinson's home in a rental truck carrying "a dozen cases of 40mm high explosive grenades, a case and a half of C-4 military grade plastic explosives, explosive detonation cord, six claymore mines and large amounts of ammunition."
"Cripe usually demanded payment in cash," the indictment said. "Robinson paid Cripe for the goods in cash."
Early in December, employees of Robinson arrived at Cripe's San Diego home "and received approximately 18,000 rounds of ammunition and 40 explosive devices, all of which had been stolen from the United States Navy," the indictment said.
The employees made a $1,000 down payment and took the armament but were stopped on their way home in a "traffic violation" in Tennessee, where authorities seized the munitions after a search, the indictment said.
Robinson, who was not charged in the indictment, could not be reached today.
In a press release, Fahey said Cripe could face at least 20 years in prison if convicted of stealing government property, transporting stolen explosives, shipping stolen ammunition and transferring unregistered firearms.
By R.H. Melton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 3, 2000 ; B05
RICHMOND, May 2 –– The chief federal prosecutor for eastern Virginia announced the criminal indictment today of a U.S. Navy SEAL who allegedly sold an array of munitions, including grenades, mines and plastic explosives, to a gun dealer in the Interstate 95 corridor just south of here.
U.S. Attorney Helen F. Fahey said a grand jury indicted Jonathan Dean Cripe, 39, a member of the San-Diego based SEAL Team 5, for selling munitions "on several occasions" to Daniel Forrest Robinson, of Hopewell.
The two met at a gun show in 1994 when Cripe was stationed in Norfolk, the indictment said.
Neither Cripe nor his Richmond attorney could be reached by telephone for comment late today.
The indictment that Fahey released said Cripe made one of his first deliveries to Robinson's home in a rental truck carrying "a dozen cases of 40mm high explosive grenades, a case and a half of C-4 military grade plastic explosives, explosive detonation cord, six claymore mines and large amounts of ammunition."
"Cripe usually demanded payment in cash," the indictment said. "Robinson paid Cripe for the goods in cash."
Early in December, employees of Robinson arrived at Cripe's San Diego home "and received approximately 18,000 rounds of ammunition and 40 explosive devices, all of which had been stolen from the United States Navy," the indictment said.
The employees made a $1,000 down payment and took the armament but were stopped on their way home in a "traffic violation" in Tennessee, where authorities seized the munitions after a search, the indictment said.
Robinson, who was not charged in the indictment, could not be reached today.
In a press release, Fahey said Cripe could face at least 20 years in prison if convicted of stealing government property, transporting stolen explosives, shipping stolen ammunition and transferring unregistered firearms.