Camp Pendleton Employee Sentenced in Medical Device Thefts

A civilian employee at Camp Pendleton was sentenced Monday to six months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for stealing medical equipment and reselling the gear intended for use on injured Marines.
 
Michael Tuisee worked in a warehouse for the Marines 1st Medical Logistics Company, where he and two co-defendants stole costly ventilators, autoclaves, defibrillators, headlights and laryngoscopes, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said Tuisee, a 34-year-old Oceanside resident, would load the items into his personal vehicle and meet resellers of medical equipment -- often in parking lots at night -- where he would exchange them for money. No information about the co-defendants was provided.
 
Tuisee, who was prosecuted on a charge of conspiracy to engage in theft of government property, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo to pay nearly $180,000 in restitution, forfeit $8,200 or so in proceeds, and spend an additional six months under house arrest.

—City News Service