U.S. soldier charged in Baghdad fuel theft

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A U.S. Army warrant officer has been charged in New York in an alleged scheme to steal fuel from Camp Liberty in Baghdad.

A federal complaint in Manhattan said Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Crenshaw, 38, of Watertown, N.Y., was stationed with the Army in Baghdad when he allegedly accepted several thousand dollars to participate in the scheme.

The complaint said an unnamed "cooperating witness" in Baghdad began accepting money from an unnamed person in exchange for being allowed to get fuel from the camp depot. The complaint implies the witness was in uniform, saying "the presence of uniformed, military personnel" in a truck would be able to obtain the fuel.

In exchange for bribes, the witness allegedly rode in the truck for several illegal loads, the complaint said.

In May, the witness allegedly told Crenshaw about the scheme and about the money involved. Crenshaw accompanied the witness and the second subject on several fuel runs in exchange for money, the complaint said.

Crenshaw was arrested and charged Monday in the United States on one count of bribery. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine -- $250,000 or three times the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Army.