WASHINGTON — A Laurel, Maryland, man has been charged with stealing thousands of government-issued cell phones while working as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Justice, federal prosecutors announced.
Javan King, 42, is accused of defrauding the Department of Justice out of more than $1.3 million while working as an information technology contractor for the department’s Civil Rights Division between 2021 and 2025, according to a criminal information filed Jan. 27, 2026.
Prosecutors allege King repeatedly requested that the department order thousands of mobile devices it did not need. After the phones were shipped to him at the Department of Justice, King allegedly sold them to phone reselling businesses.
In total, those businesses paid King more than $1.3 million for the phones, according to court documents. The filing further alleges the Department of Justice suffered an actual loss exceeding $1.3 million, including fees paid to AT&T for unnecessary phone lines and devices.
King is charged with one count of mail fraud.
The case is being investigated by the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman.
Got a tip or photo? Text us at 888-871-NEWS (6397) or email news@thebaynet.com.
Join The BayNet Membership for exclusive perks and zero ads.
Don’t miss a story—sign up for our newsletter!
Related
