Incirlik Airman found guilty of black marketing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elaine Aviles
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) --  An Airman here was found guilty of black marketing during a summary court-martial recently.

The Airman received a reduction in rank from staff sergeant to senior airman, restriction to base for 60 days and a verbal reprimand.

“The Airman needed to accomplish paperwork for personal business, and a few of his Turkish friends offered to help him by giving him a ride,” said Capt. Mechel Campbell, the 39th Air Base Wing’s military justice chief. “Upon arriving in Ankara, these ‘friends’ informed him that in exchange for the ride and for paying for the gas, the Airman needed to do them a few favors. They paid for the gas but his ‘friends’ asked for a lot in return.”

The favors included having the Airman purchase $2,600 of gas coupon books and merchandise from the base exchange and commissary in Ankara on his Turkish friends’ behalf.

“He purchased a large (number) of items in a short period of time,” said Lt. Col. Antoinette Kemper, the 39th Air Base Wing director of staff and summary court officer. “This sent up red flags to the store managers.”

The Turkish nationals walked away with $2,600 of new merchandise, but the Airman was not so lucky.

“Even good people make bad decisions,” said Colonel Kemper. “However, there can’t be leniency when our people contribute to illegal activity. Black marketing is a serious crime.”

Black marketing in Turkey is defined by the legal office as “any giving, selling or transferring of any item to a Turkish national (or anyone else not entitled to duty free goods) that was not was purchased on the Turkish economy.”

Even passing on used clothing, a pack of cigarettes or a can of coffee is considered black marketing.

“Black marketing jeopardizes our entitlements as military members,” Colonel Kemper said. “It also strains relations with our host nation. They understandably take this crime very seriously.

“I weighed my decision heavily; taking a stripe should not be taken lightly,” she said. “We entrust our young Airmen with a lot of responsibility, and most bear that responsibility with maturity and professionalism. However, as the Airman in this case found out, there has to be consequences for those who breach that trust.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)