Associated Press
GREENVILLE, N.C. — A former North Carolina deputy has pleaded guilty to federal charges that he used the Camden County Sheriff’s Office as a front to buy automatic weapons for the military contractor formerly known as Blackwater.
The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Va., reports that 45-year-old Jonathan Worthington pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court. Worthington was charged with aiding and abetting others by making false statements related to records required of a licensed firearms dealer. He’s expected to be sentenced in February.
Several former Blackwater employees face similar charges and are awaiting trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Bowler says the sheriff’s office had no need for the 34 automatic weapons Worthington ordered on sheriff’s office letterhead. Worthington also worked as a firearms instructor for Blackwater, which is now called Xe Services.
Copyright 2011 Associated Press