Marine Charged in $760K Theft From Pa. Base

A Marine sergeant has been charged with stealing supplies and equipment worth about $760,000 from a suburban Philadelphia military base.

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced charges of theft and destruction of government property against 28-year-old Christopher Cook, of Lakehurst, N.J.

Authorities say Cook stole more than 60,000 pounds of aluminum helicopter landing pads and other metal objects from the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Willow Grove.

They say he sold the supplies to a local scrap-metal dealer for nearly $51,000, which he used to pay for personal expenses. The alleged thefts occurred between August 2010 and February 2011.

Cook was assigned to a Marine reserve aviation ground-support unit headquartered at the base. It was not immediately clear if he has a lawyer.