Airmen face legal, life consequences following courts-martial

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. John Barton and Senior Airman Joel Mease
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  Five Airmen assigned to the 501st Combat Support Wing were recently found guilty in courts-martial for charges ranging from drug use to fraud and domestic violence.
All of the Airmen found guilty in the courts-martial received reduction of rank and confinement for their crimes.

"Our nation expects much from our Airmen, and we must always perform at a high standard both on and off duty to meet those expectations," said Col. Brian Kelly, 501st CSW commander. "Violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice negatively impacts our ability to execute the mission and contribute to the defense of our nation. The poor choices and decisions undertaken by these Airmen have long term impacts on them as individuals as they also unfortunately sacrificed many of their future education and employment opportunities when they chose to commit these crimes."

In August 2011, a staff sergeant from the 423rd Medical Squadron was prosecuted in a special court-martial. The sergeant was arrested by British police upon suspicion of drug activity. Later, when questioned by security forces investigators, he denied British police interaction. He was charged with use of marijuana and making a false official statement to security forces investigators. He pled guilty to drug use but not guilty to making a false official statement. He was convicted of both charges and sentenced to 21 days confinement, fined $2,100 per month for two months, and reduced in rank to airman first class. After his conviction, he was administratively discharged.

In September 2011, a senior airman from the 423rd Security Forces Squadron was charged with 10 specifications of false official statement, three specifications of larceny and three specifications of fraud. All charges stemmed from basic allowance for housing and overseas housing allowance fraud. He was convicted of eight specifications of false official statement, three specifications of larceny and two specifications of fraud. He was given a bad conduct discharge, 10 months confinement, total forfeiture of all allowance and pay and reduction in rank to airman basic. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine or face six additional months of confinement.

In October 2011, an airman first class from the 422nd Security Forces Squadron was charged with using spice and cocaine on multiple occasions. The airman was sentenced to a bad conduct discharge, 100 days confinement and reduction in rank to airman basic.

Also in October 2011, an airman first class from the 422nd Security Forces Squadron was convicted of using spice on multiple occasions, using cocaine on multiple occasions, fraudulent enlistment, making a false official statement, soliciting an Airman to use cocaine and distributing cocaine on multiple occasions. He received a bad conduct discharge, eight months confinement and was reduced in rank to airman basic. He did not disclose pre-service drug use and later bragged about it to his fellow airmen. His conviction of making a false official statement was a result of denying any drug use to Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

In December 2011, a staff sergeant from the 422nd Security Forces Squadron was convicted of nine counts of domestic violence during a period of more than five years. He received four months in jail, reduction to senior airman, and forfeiture of $1,100 per month for four months

"A domestic violence conviction means he will never be able to possess or use a firearm again," Capt. Isaac Kennen, 501st CSW deputy staff judge advocate, said. "His career as a police officer inside or outside of the military is effectively over."

All of the Airmen convicted will face life-long challenges due to their convictions.

"Every conviction by court-martial is a federal conviction," Kennen said. "Having a federal conviction alone can make life difficult. Individuals with federal convictions often have a hard time finding jobs, securing loans, and finding housing in good neighborhoods, and those negative impacts can last a lifetime. In addition, Airmen who receive a Bad Conduct discharge also lose their Post-9/11 GI Bill education entitlements."