Bragg soldiers charged with embezzling $1.2 million

Two Fort Bragg soldiers were charged with embezzling more than $1.2 million while deployed to Afghanistan, federal officials said Sunday.

Sgt. Edwin Vando and Sgt. Juan Rivera worked in a U.S. Army finance office in Kabul, officials said. They were in charge of paying a contractor for uniforms and equipment for the Afghan military and police force, according to court documents.

Investigators said they kept the money for themselves.

Both men were charged with embezzlement Thursday.

Agents recovered most of the money and seized eight silk Persian rugs from the two men, court documents state.