Seattle — (KONP staff) A respiratory therapist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to three months in prison and nine months of home confinement for theft of government property.

42-year-old GENE WAMSLEY of Bonney Lake admits stealing a ventilator and other respiratory medical equipment in the midst of the pandemic and selling it for his own gain.

WAMSLEY admits to stealing and selling on EBay three bronchoscopes worth over $100,000 for just under $16,000.

When WAMSLEY’s home was searched in June, law enforcement seized a fourth bronchoscope and a $6,000 sleep apnea device.

Further investigation revealed that WAMSLEY also stole a $10,000 respirator and sold it on eBay for just $6,000.