FORT BLISS, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A former soldier who later worked as a civilian contractor at Fort Bliss has been convicted by a federal jury in El Paso of stealing more than $1 million worth of Meals-Ready-to-Eat, according to federal prosecutors.

Joseph Lavar Davis, 47, was convicted of stealing more than 200 pallets of MREs valued at approximately $1,120,000, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons announced. The case is being prosecuted in support of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.

Court documents and trial evidence show Davis was named along with three other co-defendants in a two-count indictment on Feb. 12, 2025, charging conspiracy to commit theft of government property and a substantive count of theft of government property. Prosecutors said the thefts occurred between Feb. 24, 2020, and Aug. 12, 2020.

On Aug. 12, 2020, FBI agents and Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division agents executed a search warrant at a civilian warehouse in El Paso and found about 100 pallets of MREs. Investigators determined the owner of the company using the warehouse was purchasing the MREs from individuals who had stolen them from Fort Bliss.

Investigators said each indicted person played a role in the scheme, including a civilian contractor who knew how to request and pick up the MREs, a soldier who helped pick up and transport them, an intermediary between the buyer and the people obtaining the MREs, and a civilian who sold the MREs online.

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The investigation found the scheme involved false paperwork to obtain MREs from Fort Bliss, truck rentals to transport the pallets, coordination among co-conspirators to pick up and deliver the MREs, and communications and financial transactions among those involved.

Prosecutors said Davis previously held a food service supply position in the Army, where he learned the process for obtaining MREs. After retiring, he was hired into a similar role as a civilian contractor and used that position to exploit the process and steal MREs from Fort Bliss.

Authorities said Davis created false requests, rented trucks to transport MRE pallets, and picked up or arranged for others to pick up the MREs from Fort Bliss. Prosecutors said he also coordinated people involved in obtaining and delivering the MREs and receiving payment, negotiated the sales price and received payment for the MREs.

Joseph Davis betrayed the very country he once swore to protect in an effort to satisfy his own selfish ambition and a jury of his peers held him accountable for it,” Simmons said. “Rooting out fraud that undermines our government and our military readiness is a priority of this administration. I want to thank our Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Lori Hughes and Mallory Rasmussen, as well as our support staff and law enforcement partners, for their excellent work in bringing this fraudster to justice. Their dedication resulted in a win for the Western District of Texas, a win for Justice, and a win for the American people.

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