A former U.S. Army reservist from Pomona is heading to prison for stealing the identities of fellow soldiers stationed in Afghanistan after he pleaded no contest Tuesday.
Gustavo Cervantes was sentenced at court in downtown Los Angeles to 3 years, 8 months in prison for stealing personal information from members of his platoon while in Kandahar.
Investigators said he sent the personal information to his cousin Rigoberto Cortez in Pomona, who would use the details to open up lines of credit. He racked up nearly $200,000 worth of luxury cars, TVs, computers, furniture, and appliances.
"Here these people are defending our country and then being victimized by one of their fellow soldiers," Capt. Shaun Mathers of LA County Sheriff's Dept. said. "These were people that were fighting pretty regularly and it was all within his platoon."
Cervantes and Cortez have been ordered to pay back $180,000 dollars, plus a further $37,000 in restitution.
Cortez has been also been sentenced to 7 years behind bars.
