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National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Office of Inspector General
Washington, D.C. 20546

May 27, 2003

RELEASE 2003-035: NEW INDICTMENT FOR SHUTTLE DEBRIS THEFT

On May 7, 2003, a federal grand jury in Beaumont, Texas indicted
Daniel Christopher Williams on one count of theft of government
property for stealing debris from the space shuttle Columbia.  
Additionally, the grand jury returned a separate indictment charging 
Williams with illegal possession of a firearm.

Williams allegedly stole shuttle debris, which was identified as a 
compactor tank assembly from the Columbia orbiter.  During the 
investigation into the theft of the shuttle debris, authorities
learned that Williams unlawfully possessed a firearm.

This investigation was conducted by the NASA Office of Inspector 
General, Sabine and San Augustine County Sheriffs' Offices, and the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Malcolm 
Bales, Eastern District of Texas, is handling the prosecution.
For more information on this release, please contact Joe Kroener, 
Acting Executive Officer, NASA Office of Inspector General, at (202) 
358-2558.

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