Gene Wamsley, 42, of Bonney Lake, Washington, was sentenced to three months in prison and nine months of home confinement for theft of government property and ordered to pay $132,291 in restitution. Wamsley admitted to stealing and selling a ventilator and other respiratory medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2020, the Seattle VA Medical Center reported two bronchoscopes, used for examining a patient’s airway, were missing. A third bronchoscope was reported missing in April 2020. Wamsley admitted to stealing and selling three bronchoscopes worth over $100,000 for $15,750 via eBay. During a search of Wamsley’s home, law enforcement seized a fourth stolen bronchoscope and a stolen $6,000 sleep apnea device. The VA Office of Inspector General investigation also revealed that in April 2020, Wamsley stole a $9,950 respirator and sold it via eBay for $6,000.
