Airmen plead guilty to larceny at special courts-martial Published Dec. 18, 2008 By 341st Missile Wing Staff Judge Advocate's Office personnel MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Two special courts-martial were recently held here, both of which involved theft from a fellow Airman. On Dec. 1, in the case of United States v. Airman 1st Class Cedrick D. Ford, Airman Ford, 341st Security Forces Squadron, plead guilty to one specification of attempted larceny and two specifications of larceny. The charges stemmed from Airman Ford's unlawful use of another Airman's debit card. Airman Ford witnessed the debit card fall out of the other Airman's pocket in a dormitory stairwell and later returned and retrieved it. Airman Ford, who had previously learned the card's PIN number from its owner, first attempted to withdraw $500 from an ATM using the debit card. His attempt failed, however, because this amount exceeded the ATM's maximum withdrawal amount. Airman Ford then used the debit card to steal $400 by making a smaller withdrawal from an ATM; he returned the next day and withdrew an additional $170 from the account. Surveillance tapes from the ATM were used to help identify Airman Ford as the thief. The military judge in U.S. v. Airman 1st Class Ford, Col. David S. Castro, accepted Airman Ford's guilty plea to the charges. A panel of officer court members - the military equivalent of a jury - sentenced Airman Ford to three months confinement, reduction in rank to airman basic and forfeiture of $898 pay per month for three months. While currently being held in the Malmstrom confinement facility, Airman Ford has the opportunity to submit requests for clemency to Col. Michael E. Fortney, 341st Missile Wing commander and special-court marital convening authority, who will initially review the case. On Dec. 3, in the case of United States v. Airman 1st Class Andrew T. Williams, Airman Williams, 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron, plead guilty to three specifications of larceny. His crimes were similar in nature to Airman Ford's. Last August, Airman Williams broke into a flight-mate's car parked near dormitory 640. Airman Williams claimed he initially entered the car as part of a prank and then noticed the owner's debit card had been left in the console. Airman Williams stole the debit card and used it that same day to illegally make two purchases. Specifically, Airman Williams used the card to pay for $99 in gas for his vehicle and $189.87 worth of Internet chats. The military judge, Colonel Castro, accepted Airman Williams' guilty plea. A panel of officer court members then sentenced Airman Williams to one month of hard labor without confinement, a reduction in rank to airman basic and forfeiture of $898 pay. As in Airman Ford's case, Airman Williams may submit a request to the convening authority for clemency.