Two former Naval Academy midshipmen were sentenced yesterday to probation and home detention in federal court in Baltimore for their roles in an interstate car-theft ring.
Navy Ensign Arthur Brown, 24, was sentenced to three months of home detention and five years of probation after pleading guilty to purchasing three stolen vehicles from a New York-based ring and bringing them to Maryland, where they were retitled with phony paperwork.
U.S. district Judge Marvin J. Garbis also ordered Brown to repay money to the victims of the ring, which stole four-wheel-drive vehicles off the streets of New York City and sold them to the midshipmen and others.
Navy Ensign Corey M. Avens, 23, was sentenced to three months of home detention and three years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of being an accessory after the fact. Avens was charged with helping two midshipmen dispose of a pair of stolen vehicles and coming up a with a false tale to tell Maryland State Police troopers, who initially investigated the case.
A Navy spokeswoman said the military futures of the two ensigns have not been determined.
"The Navy will review all the information of the convictions and sentencing, and will take appropriate action," Navy Lt. Paula Dunn said.
Five former midshipmen have been sentenced, and all have received terms of probation. One former midshipman who took his case to trial, Joe L. Smith, was acquitted. A civilian who ran the ring, Marcus A. Peterson, received a one-year prison term.
That leaves Joshua M. Gray as the last of the former midshipmen to be sentenced. Gray, who resigned from the academy, pleaded guilty to purchasing a car from an undercover FBI agent. His sentencing is set for March 4.
Pub Date: 1/04/97
