By This NCO is very lucky she was not kicked out of the Army:
An 8th Army soldier Thursday lost more than the rank she was convicted of stealing.However, Staff Sgt. Nekeda Gundy dodged a bad-conduct discharge.
An audible sigh — and several exclamations of “Praise Jesus” — passed through the audience when the head of the six-member court-martial panel read Gundy’s sentence: reduction in rank to private first class, forfeiture of one month’s pay of $1,152, a fine of $2,500 and 45 days restriction.
Gundy was convicted of larceny, conspiracy and making false official statements during a general court-martial on Wednesday.
After the trial Gundy, 23, said she was happy with the sentence, and still hopes to make the Army a career.
“This is a chance to redeem myself,” she said.
Prosecutor Capt. Blake Williams had asked the court to sentence Gundy to one year confinement, reduction in rank to E-1, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, a fine of $5,000 and a bad-conduct discharge.
Defense attorney Michael Waddington said Gundy didn’t need to spend time in jail, because she was a nonviolent first offender who is five months into a high-risk pregnancy.
He didn’t ask the panel for a specific sentence, but he told panel members they were like “tribal elders” and should use their collective wisdom to arrive at a punishment that did not include confinement.
Gundy faced a maximum 10-year prison sentence, a bust to E-1, forfeiture of pay and allowances, a fine and a bad-conduct discharge.
By falsely claiming she had an associate’s degree, Gundy had pushed past the 770 points needed to earn the rank of staff sergeant,Williams said. [Stars & Stripes]
From what I read in this article, I would have recommended she be kicked out of the Army because she is basically a thief and I have little patience for thieves. She stole something that was not hers, the E-6 rank, along with all the pay and privileges that go along with it. So we know she has little integrity and I have to wonder about her competency considering it isn’t that hard to take some legitimate college courses through E-Army U to earn the necessary promotion points. Was her intellect not up to passing classes or was she just too lazy? Either way is this the type of person we want leading soldiers?
11:30 pm on July 1st, 2010 1
You already covered this story.
Regardless, had she been Caucasian and/or male, she'd have been slammed.
12:13 am on July 2nd, 2010 2
What's next on ROK Drop Breaking News?
Buggy Whip Company Pays Whale Oil Bill?
12:28 am on July 2nd, 2010 3
I thought this case was like old news…(i.e. at least 2 years old). Did I miss something…?
12:48 am on July 2nd, 2010 4
“This is a chance to redeem myself,”
Wow!
I know there were times when an NCO could probably survive something like this. But when I was in, such a person's long term career plans would be gone even if they were allowed to stay in. Has this changed?
4:55 am on July 2nd, 2010 5
Stars and Stripes recently changed their layout; putting links to archived stories in their Most Read section with meaningless dates assigned to them.
8:43 am on July 2nd, 2010 6
Mark,
“Regardless, had she been Caucasian and/or male, she’d have been slammed.”
What a terribly sexist and racist thing to say!
For you to think something like that says a lot about your cynical character and lack of life experience.
You… uh… hmmm… wait a second.
Her husband was “convicted” a month later.
Maybe you are only sexist instead of sexist AND racist.
“Staff Sgt. Andre Gundy was sentenced to a reduction in rank to E-3, forfeiture of $500 a month for 24 months, a reprimand, three months of hard labor without confinement and 60 days of restriction.
The six-member panel convicted him of conspiracy to commit larceny, 11 counts of making false official statements and dereliction of duty.”
If it makes you feel better, he put sergeant back on a year later and they own a $203,420 house at 1114 Dawn Creek Court in Jacksonville, FL… 32218.
Damn. There are no secrets on these-here Intertubes.
8:45 am on July 2nd, 2010 7
I guess the "tribal elders" wanted to keep their tribe member in the army. Why a court would allow a comment like that is beyond me.
Is the army so short of personnel they have to keep cheats and crooks in the army?
10:12 am on July 2nd, 2010 8
Here is the message:
Liars and thieves are welcome in the US Army.
Way to go US Army!
Stories like this make me ashamed of my 20 years of service. The Army is suited just fine for the derelicts of American society. Those who believe this is the only time this soldier has lied, cheated or stole are stupid or just don't care. Next thing you know, she'll be accepted to OCS or WOBC.
I'm so ashamed of the Army
1:35 pm on July 2nd, 2010 9
LoL
I was in trial defense in Yongsan in 2007, this case brought back memories…..because this was from then hah! that was a nice blast from the past, we were all pretty shocked at her light sentence. (Her husband also got a light sentence for pretty much the same offense)
Nice trip down memory lane, rokdrop
-CPT K
10:04 pm on July 2nd, 2010 10
hahaha her husband was a criminal too?
as for her doesnt the army verify education before accepting promotion packets??? my question is a 23 year old E-5 or E-6???? attrition must be taking its toll on the ranks
1:38 pm on July 18th, 2010 11
Hmmm, I think they should have forfieted her NCO Academy schooling too. I'm sure she has attended PLDC. She obviously did a brain dump of all the leadership training she received there. Make herattend the course again if she's ever considered for promotion to sergeant again.