Army Recruitment Fraud

An Army National Guardsman from Fountain pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing from the government for collecting recruiting bonuses he wasn’t entitled to.

The Denver Post reports that 43-year-old Thurman Foster pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property. He agreed to pay restitution of $31,000.

Foster was a staff sergeant and mechanic for the 1157th Forward Support Company in Windsor. He took part in the Guard Recruiting Assistance Program, which offered recruiting referral bonuses to participants for each potential soldier they referred who signed an enlistment contract.

The Guard stopped using the program more than a year ago.

Foster’s plea agreement calculates a sentencing range of between six months to 30 months. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 4.