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An Air National Guardsman assigned to work on the border fence in Arizona has been accused of stealing more than $8,100 of scrap metal from the project and selling it to buy personal items.

Master Sgt. Robert J. Kelley, 48, will be in Tucson federal court today for an initial appearance on the charge of theft of government property, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona.

Kelley, of the Wyoming Air National Guard, was assigned to Operation Jump Start near Sonoita, where he worked on the construction of the border fence on the international border between the United States and Mexico, the release said.

Kelley is accused of using a government-owned dump truck on Dec. 14 to transport at least five loads of scrap metal belonging to the Department of Homeland Security from the border fence project area to a Tucson company that buys scrap metal, the release said.

As a result, Kelley, who was in uniform at the time, was paid $8,154 for the scrap metal and used the proceeds to make personal purchases that included a pistol, a garage door opener, cowboy boots and a variety of tools, the release said.

If convicted, Kelley could get up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Kelly, of Carpenter, Wyo., was arrested Wednesday in Phoenix.