$3 Million Misappropriation Trial To Start In Washington State

The trial for Steven B. Smith of Blue Jay, California and a former Federal Aviation Administration technician and his half brother, Bradley Alexander George Garner, a Canadian citizen residing in southern California, on charges they stole some $3 million worth in "excess property" overseen by the U.S. General Service Administration, is set to commence. The pair were each indicted this month on wire fraud and theft of honest services counts in the alleged theft of more than 200 items of government property over a four-year period, including a 50-foot yacht, a Cessna airplane, a 44-foot yawl, ski boats, trucks, trailers, heavy equipment, tools, computers and other valuable equipment. Some of which they sold and other they kept for their own use. According to prosecutors, the scheme began in late 2004, when Smith improperly gained an access code to a GSA Web site where excess property from across the federal government is listed and procured equipment ostensibly for the FAA, but in fact for himself and Garner. The scheme continued until February 2008 when an official became suspicious and reported Smith to internal authorities. Following a joint GSA and FBI investigation, a raid conducted in November 2008 seized more than $1 million in stolen vehicles, boats and other equipment and Smith and Garner were arrested.

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