A former staffer for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was arrested last week for allegedly stealing hundreds of government-issued cellphones and selling them for personal profit, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Monday.
The devices, intended for official committee use, reportedly ended up in a Maryland pawn shop, with an estimated total value of approximately $150,000.
Christopher Southerland, 43, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, served as a systems administrator for the committee from April 2020 through July 2023. In that role, he was responsible for ordering, distributing and managing mobile devices for committee staff.
Prosecutors allege that between January and May 2023, Southerland had 240 new phones shipped directly to his home—far exceeding the roughly 80 staffers assigned to the committee at the time.
According to an indictment unsealed last week, Southerland instructed a pawn shop employee to sell the phones in parts to bypass the committee’s mobile device management software, which allows devices to be remotely secured and monitored.
The alleged scheme came to light when one of the stolen phones was sold intact on eBay.
The buyer noticed the device displayed the House Technology Service Desk phone number, prompting staff to investigate and uncover the missing devices, the Washington Examiner reports.
“Stealing taxpayer-funded devices is a betrayal of public trust,” Pirro said in a statement. “These phones are intended to support the work of the House, not line someone’s pockets. Accountability matters—no one is above the law.”
Southerland faces federal charges of theft of government property. If convicted, prosecutors have indicated they will seek monetary restitution for the stolen devices.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI and is being prosecuted in Washington, D.C., by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Green.
The case highlights gaps in congressional oversight and internal controls for government-issued technology.
While committees typically rely on system administrators to manage devices, this incident highlights vulnerabilities in monitoring protocols and access privileges.
Legal analysts note that the alleged theft demonstrates how inadequate safeguards can be exploited for personal gain, raising broader concerns about accountability in federal operations, according to The Daily Record.
Incidents involving congressional staffers have surfaced sporadically in recent years.
In 2024, a communications director for Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) was arrested for bringing ammunition into a House office.
Last year, a staffer for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) was terminated after posing as an immigration attorney to secure the release of an illegal alien.
These events, experts say, reinforce the need for stronger internal controls and ethical oversight.
The discovery of Southerland’s alleged scheme prompted routine inventory checks and highlighted the importance of cross-verifying device allocations.
Monika Rittner, a supervisor involved in the investigation, coordinated with the pawn shop to recover the phones.
All instances of unauthorized possession or sale are being referred to appropriate authorities, including the county corporation counsel, ensuring that each case is addressed systematically.
House officials have not yet indicated whether procedural reforms will be implemented to prevent similar incidents.
The case raises questions about the long-term safeguards for sensitive government-issued resources, emphasizing the need for rigorous oversight and accountability measures to protect taxpayer-funded assets.
