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SALT LAKE CITY — The former director of Dugway Proving Ground’s logistics readiness center has been charged with stealing military equipment, according to court documents.
Tomac was charged with the theft of government property that occurred from June 25, 2012, through January 25, 2017, according to an indictment filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court.
“Phillip Tomac, the defendant herein, did knowingly and willfully steal property of the United States, to wit: military grade optics, of a value exceeding $1,000,” court documents state.
The items stolen were military scopes for rifles and optic devices, according to Dugway public affairs officer Robert Saxon. The exact value of the equipment was not specified.
Saxon said he did not know if that equipment was intended to come to Dugway or if the equipment was already at Dugway.
“We’re so early in the investigation that there’s a lot left to do here,” he said.
Dugway Proving Ground is a U.S. Army facility where tests and support enable U.S. Army soldiers to counter any chemical, biological, radiological and explosives hazards, according to its website.
Dugway officials were informed of the investigation last week.
“(Tomac) had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation,” Saxon said.
Tomac has since been removed from his position and an interim director was named, he added.
The division that Tomac was director of is in charge of receiving supplies, accounting for supplies and then making sure they arrive at the right agency that ordered any of the supplies, Saxon said. Those supplies could be anything needed at the facility.
“Allegations of misconduct are taken very seriously by Dugway and Army leadership,” Vincent Liddiard, Dugway’s chief of staff, said in a statement. “This situation is not representative of the nearly 2,000 dedicated, hardworking employees that live and work at Dugway and, on a daily basis, support the readiness of our war fighters and protect our nation.”
Contributing: Cleon Wall
