A federal jury in El Paso returned a guilty verdict on June 30, 2026, against Joseph Lavar Davis, a 47-year-old former U.S. Army civilian contractor, on two counts: conspiracy to commit theft of government property and substantive theft of government property [1]. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Hughes and Mallory Rasmussen of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas [1]. The prosecution proceeded as part of the Trump Administration's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a coordinated federal initiative targeting theft and waste involving government resources [1].
The government's evidence centered on a scheme in which Davis stole more than 200 pallets of Meals Ready to Eat from U.S. Army stocks at Fort Bliss, with the theft occurring between February and August 2020 [1]. The MREs carried an approximate value of $1.12 million [1]. Davis's prior service as a soldier gave him access and familiarity with military supply chains, which prosecutors identified as central to his ability to carry out the theft over a sustained period [1].
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled [1]. Theft of government property under 18 U.S.C. § 641 carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment per count when the value of the property exceeds $1,000, and a conspiracy conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 371 carries a maximum of five years. Davis faces sentencing on both counts, with the final term subject to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and any arguments in mitigation or aggravation.
No post-trial motions or notice of appeal had been reported as of the verdict date [1]. Defense counsel of record was not identified in available sources.