Staff Report

Joshua J. Montoya of Velarde is slated for arraignment Wednesday in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe for allegedly stealing large amounts of copper from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) last year.

A criminal complaint filed July 14, 2016 in Los Alamos Magistrate Court by Los Alamos Police Cpl. Jack Casias, states that LANL contacted the Department of Energy Office (DOE) of the Inspector General (OIG) to report that some $15,000 to $20,000 worth of copper fittings and tubing was stolen from Technical Areas 3 and 48-1 as well as copper valves and brass valves from Technical Area 35.

The OIG and LAPD officials interviewed a LANL supervisor July 13, 2016, for the areas in question. The supervisor stated that he had reviewed all security badge swipe logs for employees who had entered the area of TA-3 in question July 9, 2016 through July 10, 2016, and had determined that Montoya, a pipe fitter, was the only one not scheduled to work.

The complaint alleges the OIG and LAPD were notified that Montoya worked directly with copper fittings and tubing, was aware of where the copper was located and had access to several of the areas from which copper was taken.

OIG and LAPD officials visited Gallegos Scrap Metal in Espanola where owner Tim Gallegos confirmed that he had purchased large amounts of copper from Montoya and allegedly provided documentation, driver’s license information and photos of transactions allegedly made by Montoya. According to the documentation, Montoya had allegedly sold 2,709 pounds of copper and brass to Gallegos and was allegedly paid $3,474 since May 2016.

The complaint filed says Gallegos identified a barrel of copper tubing/pipe, which had been bought from Montoya that was still on site as well as several other boxes of copper with markings indicating they had originated at LANL.

An arrest warrant was issued July 14, 2016 for Montoya. He was bound over to District Court May 11 by Los Alamos Magistrate Judge Pat Casados.