6 Face Trials in Sale of Gear Stolen on Base

Five people, including the owners of two North County military surplus stores, were arraigned in federal court Tuesday in San Diego on charges that they bought and sold stolen U.S. military equipment.

Donna Jean Holmes and her husband, Thomas Henry Holmes, owners of the ABC Laundry and Surplus in Oceanside and Village Camping and Surplus in Carlsbad, were charged with conspiracy to receive stolen military property. In addition, Mrs. Holmes was charged with illegally purchasing military property and making two false tax returns.

A sixth defendant, Marine Corps Sgt. Scott Clayton, a former employee of ABC Laundry, will be prosecuted by the Marine Corps for his alleged participation in the purchase of stolen military property for the store, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

All of the defendants are free on bail.

The federal grand jury issued an indictment Monday after a joint investigation by the FBI, the Naval Investigative Service and the Internal Revenue Service. The investigation was one phase of “Operation Rip-Stop,” which is designed to investigate and prosecute the theft of military gear from Camp Pendleton. To date, 53 people have been convicted of selling stolen Marine Corps equipment to undercover surplus stores.

Also named in the indictment were Doug Kemper, who is Donna Holmes’ brother; Evelyn Renfroe, and her son, Donald Renfroe.

In a second indictment, Kenneth Preston Westbrook, who operates Vista Surplus in Vista, is charged with 12 counts of illegally purchasing military property and 12 counts of receiving stolen U.S. military equipment. The indictment alleges that from Nov. 6, 1982, through Aug. 29, 1984, Westbrook made 24 purchases of assorted military equipment from undercover agents. The value of the equipment was $12,500.