Arrest of a Former Staff Member
A former staff member of the House has been apprehended on allegations of stealing numerous government cell phones and selling them at a pawn shop.
According to the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police, Christopher Southerland, 43, from Glen Burnie, Maryland, is accused of stealing and profiting from these devices.
Between January and May 2023, he reportedly took around 240 government cell phones valued at over $150,000 and sold them to a nearby pawn shop.
Southerland was arrested on Friday and subsequently charged in U.S. District Court, as announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Monday.
Pirro stated that Southerland exploited his role as a system administrator for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which enabled him to order cell phones for committee staff members as part of his scheme.
At that time, approximately 80 staffers were employed by the committee.
Southerland ordered 240 phones to be shipped directly to his home in Glen Burnie before selling most of them at the pawn shop.
He instructed a pawn shop employee to sell the phones “in parts” to evade security measures associated with House cell phones; however, this plan ultimately failed.
One phone was sold intact on eBay to an unsuspecting buyer who later discovered it displayed a number linked to the House of Representatives Technology Service Desk.
This prompted the buyer to call the number, leading House employees to realize their cellphone inventory was short.
Southerland is no longer employed by the committee. His LinkedIn profile indicates he is seeking new employment opportunities while highlighting skills such as project coordination and strong problem-solving abilities. He began working in the U.S. House in September 2018 and served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from April 2020 until July 2023.
