Drill SGT Accused and sentenced

[catman]

Got this from another site, not sure when it happened but was posted on 13 Jan 05

Trav



FORT SILL, Okla. ? A drill sergeant has been convicted of taking bribes from trainees under his command in a scheme in which soldiers could buy ?insurance? to guarantee they would pass basic training.
Sgt. 1st Class Larry T. Jones, 35, of Pensacola, Fla., was given a five-year prison sentence following his conviction Wednesday on nine charges and 18 specifications that included bribery, assault, conspiracy and making false statements to investigators.

Jones, who has been in the military for 16 years, was given a reduction to the lowest rank, his pay and allowances were cut and he was dishonorably discharged. Jones then was led away to a Fort Sill detention center.

?He?s a very practical man who has a deep faith and trust in the Lord, and I think he was braced that this could happen,? said James Willson, a Lawton attorney who represented Jones. ?Everything he has worked for the past 16 years is gone, and his future will now be affected because he will carry the stigma of a federal conviction with him for the rest of his life.?

Prosecutors sought the maximum penalty of 84 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge and a forfeiture of any future pay and allowances. Before sentencing, Capt. La? Donna Shankle summed up the prosecution?s recommendation when she said: ?It is appalling he (Jones) sent untrained soldiers into the Army while lining his pockets with their money. He stripped them of so much more.?

Jones, a father of two, made his own plea to jurors and asked that they allow him to finish his military service.

?I want to stay in the Army,? Jones said. ?I love soldiering.?

Jones was convicted of orchestrating a scheme to sell ?P.T. (physical training) insurance? to basic trainees under his command.

During the three-day court-martial, witnesses testified that $200 to $300 was paid for ?P.T. insurance? to guarantee that a trainee receive passing marks on final basic training tests.

[DMZ-LT]

Shoot the A hole in front of the next basic class that starts.

[catman]

Have been thinking about this one all morning since I posted it.....I know there are corrupt people at all levels and within all positions. But I can not get through my mind how a Drill Sgt and let alone an E-7 could possibly send less than qualified troops into combat. I am not even going to touch the part about bribing or should that be stealing money from recruits.

Why was this guy not tried for attempted murder? Voluntary Manslaughter or something?

No punishment is server enough for this pig!

Trav

[Keith_Hixson]

Hog Wash! Garbage!
When jerks claim a deep faith in God it brings shame on all true believer, Christians don't do harm to others for their own selfish benefit.

I'm with the LT. Shoot him!

Keith

Have 20 of the trainees that haven't had marksmanship training as yet shoot him.Repeat until they get the job done.Should be a learning experience for all concerned.

[Robert Ryan]

This guy shame to a proud honored group of NCO's . I tottaly respected my DI in basic SSG Philip Mai. This guy was just the bad apple in the bunch of good ones.

[Jerry D]

Agreed , Isn't it amazing of all the folks one meets in the Military the Drill Instructor is the one person every one remembers their name! Mine was SSgt Smothers and Sgt Kennedy of the 3701st BMTS Lackland AFB 1980 class of July 24-Sept 1 1980 btw when my flight did Honor Flight Drill the DI had more demerits then the whole flight so we were good!
I just googled for info on my old Drill Instuctor and found a Flight Photo of Him and Kennedy with a Flight after mine but I recognized their smiling faces anywhere btw the link is http://www.lackland.af.mil/info/80photos.asp
It's Aug 1980 3701 SSgt Smother.jpg so It's close enough to replace the picture I lost years ago btw if you take a look at the picture don't SSgt Smothers look just like Eddie Murphy ?