Central New York men arrested in connection to sale of stolen military equipment online

Three Central New York men have been arrested in connection with the stealing and reselling of government-owned military equipment.

The New York State Police report they were contacted by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division and were advised that a suspicious Facebook Marketplace account had been opened by James Waleski, 50, of Jamesville, a Department of Defense employee at the 174th Air National Guard Attack Wing in Syracuse. The account was attempting to sell military-grade equipment not available to the general public.

Search warrants were executed on Waleski's residence, phone and computer which resulted in the recovery of tens of thousands of military equipment that had been stolen from the 174th Air National Guard Attack Wing, the 272nd Army Military Police Detachment in Auburn and the Army National Guard 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse.

Further investigation revealed that Waleski was stealing military equipment, some sensitive in nature, and selling the items online and in person.

The New York State Police recovered thousands of dollars of military equipment from Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, and locally from Taberg and Flushing, New York. In one instance, investigators recovered a ballistic vest that was being reshipped to Russia.

During the search warrant at the Waleski residence an illegal assault rifle, not obtained through his employment as a federal employee, was recovered. This led to the arrest of Jennifer Walseki, 40, for criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. (Class D felony).

The investigation revealed that Gordon Reynolds, 44, of Chittenango, a Military Police Officer assigned to the 272nd Military Police Detachment in Auburn, and Joriann Garcia Hernandez, 38, of Rome, a Unit Supply Specialist assigned to Company D 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion in Syracuse, were also stealing military equipment.

As a result of the month-long investigation led by the NYSP Community Stabilization Unit, the three men were charged as follows.

James Waleski

• Grand larceny in the second degree (Class C felony)
• 10 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Class D felony)
• Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Class D felony)
• Unlawful sale of body armor (Class A misdemeanor)

Gordon Reynolds

• Criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (Class E felony)
• Two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (Class D felony)

Joriann Garcia Hernandez

• Petit larceny (Class A misdemeanor)

Anyone with information pertinent to this investigation or anyone who has purchased military equipment from James Waleski is asked to call Investigator Carl Schneider at State Police Headquarters (315) 366-6000.