Oceanside

A former Marine sergeant has been convicted of 13 counts of illegally selling military equipment to FBI agents posing as surplus dealers.

Edward Grossenheider, 34, was convicted Thursday by a federal jury.

U.S. prosecutors agreed to drop three additional counts against Grossenheider when jurors were unable to reach a verdict on those counts.

The 14-year Marine veteran was charged with selling gas masks worth about $100,000 to undercover agents who operated a phony surplus store in Oceanside.

Grossenheider, who was given an administrative discharge, was allowed to remain free on bail pending sentencing on Aug. 19.

He was one of more than 60 people indicted last year as a result of a federal undercover operation called “Operation Rip Stop.” The nationwide investigation was launched to crack down on surplus dealers who sold stolen military equipment.