“Alcohol, strictly forbidden by the American military in Iraq and Afghanistan, is involved in a growing number of crimes committed by troops deployed to Afghanistan. Here a soldier drinks a beer while on duty.
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Charles Edward McElveen was discharged from the U.S. Army under Chapter 10 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in lieu of trial by court martial.
McElveen was discharged “other than honorable” from the military for the sale and distribution of alcohol while deployed to Afghanistan from 2012 until 2013. McElveen also faces suspension and debarment proceedings.
The investigation was initiated upon receipt of allegations that Crystal Construction Company (CCC) filed false claims in connection with a contract to deliver 450 barriers used to fortify bases in Afghanistan to FOB Salerno during 2012. Additional information surfaced involving McElveen, the COR on the contract, who allegedly received kickbacks and wired the proceeds to family members in the United States. The investigation uncovered that McElveen and Desean Denny, a private contractor working at FOB Salerno, wired thousands of dollars back to the United States while in Afghanistan.
McElveen and Denny were interviewed and both confessed to the smuggling and distribution of alcohol while stationed at FOB Salerno. However, there was no evidence of kickbacks in connection to the CCC contract.
Denny was terminated and suspension and debarment proceedings are pending. McElveen returned to the United States to face court-martial proceedings involving the smuggling and distribution of alcohol.