Charges Filed In Washington Co. Army Navy Surplus Store Bust
CALIFORNIA, Pa. (KDKA) -- It was almost a year ago when NCIS agents, joined by Washington County investigators raided the Army Navy surplus store in California, Pennsylvania.
They were looking for military supplies that had been stolen from Camp Lejune in North Carolina.
"My dad built this business up for me and my sisters, and to put it jeopardy for something stupid like that, buying something we knew was stolen, I would not do that intentionally," said store owner Mike Miske, in November of 2013.
Despite that claim, investigators say the search netted more than $216,000 worth of stolen military items.
Washington County District Attorney Eugene Vittone says it took a year to bring charges because they ran into an issue.
"We recovered more items than what was stolen came from Camp Lejune, so we were trying to determine where all the items came from," he said.
While the NCIS investigation continues elsewhere, Vittone's staff got the green light this week to proceed with charges against Miske for paying for the stolen items, as well as his uncle, Thomas Miske, for setting up the purchases, even after an NCIS confidential informant told him the merchandise was stolen.
"They were designated for use by the soldiers," said Vittone. "They hadn't reached the point to where they were being distributed to soldiers, at the time they were taken they were in a warehouse."
"Both Thomas and Mike Miske are free on $25,000 unsecured bond. They will be in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 17.
You May Also Be Interested In These Latest News Stories
Charges Pending After NCIS Raids Washington Co. Army & Navy Surplus Store (11/14/13)
California Army Navy Surplus Store Part Of Nationwide Investigation (11/15/13)
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
