Grand Jury Accuses Man Of Stealing From Marines

LAS VEGAS, Nevada(AP) – A federal grand jury has indicted a former Marine for stealing $39,000 from the bank accounts of 15 active duty Marines while they were serving in Iraq.

Edgar Alejandro Hermosillo was charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and identity theft.

The U.S. Attorney in Nevada says the 24 year old was a Marine from 2001 to 2005 and during that time accessed bank account information of Marines on computers at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

After being discharged in May 2005, he allegedly directed funds to be sent to his own bank account, those of his family members and to Western Union branches in Nevada, Texas and New Mexico.

He now lives in El Paso, Texas. An attempt to reach him was unsuccessful. The man is due in court for an arraignment Feb. 1.

If convicted of the most serious charge of wire fraud, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)