Soldier charged with smuggling $1 million from Afghanistan

Federal authorities filed a criminal information last Friday against Tonya Long. Such filings usually indicate a plea agreement is being negotiated and that no grand jury indictment will be needed.

Long was a staff sergeant assigned to 189th Combat Sustainment Battalion, which was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group for a deployment to Afghanistan from January 2008 to April 2009. She served as transportation management coordinator and customs inspector, meaning that she was responsible for the movement of supplies in the war zone and items being shipped back to the U.S., according to court documents.

Prosecutors allege that Long hid the cash in a number of VCRs sent to the U.S. in January and February 2009. They are seeking forfeiture of any property Long purchased with the smuggled cash.