Former Blackwater employees get probation for possession of stolen weapons

[sabra]

Source: Sun Journal

Two former Blackwater employees were sentenced in U.S. District Court in New Bern this morning to three years of probation for possession of stolen firearms.

Chief U.S. District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan said the details in this case should be kept sealed.

Kenneth Wayne Cashwell of Virginia Beach, Va., and William Ellsworth “Max” Grumiaux of Clemmons cooperated with federal prosecutors. Officials say the men agreed to testify in other Blackwater cases.

Blackwater is a private security company in Moyock that employs about 1,000 contractors to protect diplomats and perform other jobs in Iraq. Cashwell and Grumiaux pleaded guilty in early 2007 in federal court in Greenville to possession of stolen firearms that had been shipped in interstate or foreign commerce and to conspiracy to aid in the sale of firearms.

However, the guilty pleas never addressed whether the men shipped any arms overseas. There was no mention in court about whether the weapons were shipped to or sold in Iraq.

In their plea bargains, which called for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the men agreed to testify in any future proceedings.

Read more: http://www.newbernsj.com/news/court_38094___article.html/blackwater_cashwell.html

[aikoaiko]

1. rut-roh --- they cuts deals

[gratuitous]

2. Pleas bargained, details sealed

And thus endeth another investigation into Bush administration war crimes. Two goobers will get three years' probation, they'll never have to testify in any further proceedings, because there won't be any further proceedings. Any questions about where this very interesting loose thread will go unanswered, as the administration will aver that all the bad guys were caught, prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law, and 11 months from now, in the dead of night on Christmas Eve, George W. Bush will observe an old family tradition and pardon anyone with any knowledge about or participation in these crimes.

Justice will be alleged to have been served.

[formercia]

3. and the nation will be 'united' again.

That's why he has no concern about breaking the law or ordering anyone else to break the law.
Junior has never been accountable for anything. It was part of his training to be "The decider."

[saigon68]

4. In keeping with his occupation of "War Criminal"

[Hulk]

5. Wow...way to spank those scum bags. A nation of fools!!!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. Did they ever find the missing Iraqi military aircraft they attempted to steal?

If so I've not heard anything about it.



WASHINGTON: Blackwater USA tried to take at least two Iraqi military aircraft out of Iraq two years ago and refused to give the planes back when Iraqi officials sought to reclaim them, according to a congressional committee investigating the private security contractor.

Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, wants the company to provide all documents related to the attempted shipment and to explain where the aircraft are now.

In a letter sent Friday to Erik Prince, Blackwater's top executive, Waxman said he learned of the 2005 attempt from a military official who contacted the committee. That official is not identified in the letter, nor is the type of aircraft.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/20/america/NA-GEN-US-Blackwater-Iraq.php

[Barrett808]

7. k & r