Feds arrest retired soldier charged in $918,000 theft

By Guillermo Contreras, gcontreras@express-news.net
Updated 02:30 p.m., Monday, January 9, 2012

A retired Army soldier charged with stealing computers and military uniforms from Fort Sam Houston and selling them for more than $918,000 has turned himself in.

Francisco Javier de la Maza, 46, was arrested Friday by agents with the Defense Criminal Investigative Service after arriving in San Antonio on a flight from Mexico City. He had his initial hearing Monday, and was ordered held pending a bail hearing Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Pamela Mathy.

A federal indictment accuses him of stealing the items from an area at Fort Sam formerly known as the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office. The indictment said he sold off several computers while his now ex-wife, Gabriela de la Maza, allegedly sold the uniforms, using the money to buy five homes and other items and to pay off credit card bills.

Gabriela de la Maza, 47, was denied bond in the case at a hearing last week and is also behind bars.

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