NORFOLK, Va. – A Chief Petty Officer based at Naval Station Norfolk has pled guilty to charges of theft after admitting to stealing valuable military gear and selling it online.
Shawn Claude Crowell, 40, was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic and was responsible for managing and inspecting the unit’s military equipment from December 2022 until his departure in September 2024. According to court documents, Crowell stole several pieces of government property between January and June 2023, including seven sets of Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), two specialized lenses, and eight battery packs, altogether valued at over $164,000.
Crowell allegedly used online ads to sell five of the NVG sets for a total of nearly $20,000 and listed the two high-tech lenses, regulated under the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which restricts the sale of sensitive military technology, for $300. The battery packs went for $500.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) launched an investigation in May 2023, leading to a search of Crowell’s vehicle where agents found one of the stolen NVG sets. Crowell now faces sentencing scheduled for April 11, 2025, and could receive up to 10 years in federal prison, although actual sentences often fall below the maximum guideline.