Hurricane man pleads guilty to military fuel theft

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — A former program manager with the Naval Special Warfare Command pleaded guilty to improperly charging more than $5,000 in diesel fuel for his personal vehicles.

Matthew Todd Brock, 42, of Hurricane, pleaded guilty to theft of government property Monday in federal court, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin’s office.

From February 2012 to March 2012, Brock illegally used a government-issued credit card to purchase fuel for his personal and family’s vehicle. He made approximately $5,619 in illegal fuel purchases using the credit card.

Brock was serving as the program manager for the NSW program in Red House, a position for which he was hired in September 2010.

Brock additionally began stealing diesel fuel in May 2012 from the NSW Ops Stock program in Red House and later sold the fuel to an acquaintance for $1 per gallon. The transactions took place once or twice a week for approximately eight months. In total, Brock illegally sold nearly $15,000 in diesel fuel that he stole from the facility.

That acquaintance, 59-year-old Charles Raymond Franklin, of Red House, was charged in a three-count indictment in July for conspiring to steal and receive public property and conspiring to receive stolen government property, according to the release.

Franklin allegedly received approximately 196 gallons of diesel fuel that was stolen from a National Guard maintenance shop on Feb. 15, 2013. The release said he knew the fuel was stolen.

Franklin faces up to five years on the receiving stolen property charge and up to 10 years in prison on each charge of conspiring to receive stolen government property. Franklin also faces a $250,000 fine on each count.

Brock’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 18 and he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine.