Flower Mound, Texas Man Working at Raytheon Admits Stealing and Selling Thermal Weapon Sights from Employer

DALLAS—Ray Dean Young, a former engineer at Raytheon, a government contractor, pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez to one count of theft of government property, announced Acting U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Young, 47, of Flower Mound, Texas, was arrested without incident at his home on February 6, 2009, on charges in an indictment that had been returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas earlier that week. He was released on bond. Young faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to plea documents filed in court, from April 2004 through mid-June 2005, while working at Raytheon’s facility in Dallas, Young stole at least seven Thermal Weapons Sights (TWS), commonly known as night vision scopes, that were being built at Raytheon for the U.S. Army. During his employment at Raytheon, Young held a “Secret” security clearance.

Young sold the stolen scopes to a neighbor who had asked Young on multiple occasions to provide him with these scopes. The neighbor told Young that he wanted to use them for hunting. The neighbor paid Young a total of $50,500 for the scopes, which Young used to pay credit card, and other personal bills.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jacks praised Raytheon for their cooperation in the investigation. “Much of the important work done at Raytheon is intended to protect and help our soldiers and Marines do an extremely difficult job under difficult conditions. The product of that work, tools designed to assist our military men and women, must be protected to ensure that it is not stolen and possibly used against the very persons it was intended to protect.”

The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mark Penley.

Press Releases | Dallas Home