Federal prosecutors have charged a Maryland resident with running a significant theft scheme inside the U.S. House of Representatives. Christopher Southerland, 43, from Glen Burnie, stands accused of stealing hundreds of government-issued cell phones and reselling them for personal gain. This information came to light on Monday during an announcement from the Department of Justice.
Authorities allege that Southerland, who served as a system administrator for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from April 2020 through July 2023, misused his position to carry out this elaborate scheme. His role allowed him to order mobile phones for committee staff, but investigators claim he took advantage of that authority for his own benefit.
From January to May 2023, Southerland reportedly ordered approximately 240 government phones to his home in Maryland. At the time, the committee had only about 80 staff members, suggesting he ordered more devices than actually needed. In a striking twist, he allegedly sold more than 200 of these stolen phones to a nearby pawn shop. The sheer volume of devices raised suspicions, given that it far exceeded any reasonable equipment turnover for a small committee.
To further conceal his activities, Southerland supposedly instructed a pawn shop employee to dismantle the phones and sell them in parts. This move was likely intended to evade detection by the House’s mobile device management software, which enables oversight of government phones. However, Southerland’s plan fell apart when one of the stolen phones was sold intact on eBay. When the buyer powered on the device, it surprisingly displayed a contact number for the House of Representatives Technology Service Desk.
After the buyer called the number, House officials began to investigate and quickly linked the phone to Southerland’s fraudulent orders. This discovery set off a wider investigation, signaling the severity of the breach within congressional offices. Both the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI are jointly investigating the incident, underscoring the seriousness of the charges against Southerland.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the unsealing of the federal indictment against Southerland. It is clear that this theft scheme, involving over $150,000 in stolen devices, poses questions about security and integrity within governmental operations. As the prosecution moves forward, the implications of this case will likely resonate beyond the immediate theft, reflecting concerns about accountability within public service roles.
"*" indicates required fields
