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A Billerica, Massachusetts moving and storage company will pay $60,000 owed to an Air Force veteran after auctioning off his personal items while he served overseas.
CBS Boston reports Father & Son Moving & Storage was sued by the Justice Department in 2020 after it failed to get a court order prior to auctioning off items in two storage units that belonged to an unidentified Technical Sergeant, which federal authorities said violates the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
Prosecutors said the sergeant told the storage company that he was enlisted and wore his Air Force uniform while employees packed his belongings at Hanscom Air Force Base.
Father & Son reportedly auctioned off the Technical Sergeant's furniture, personal photos, military gear and other personal items belonging to a cousin killed while serving in Afghanistan, as well as his grandfather's military service medals, while the man served the Air Force overseas, CBS Boston reports.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston confirmed a settlement was reached on Thursday (September 16), which includes Father & Son agreeing to pay $60,000 in damages, as well as a $5,000 civil penalty to the federal government in relation to the incident.
The company must also adhere to new policies preventing similar incidents from taking place in the future.
CBS Boston reports Father & Son has been the focus of numerous 'I-Team' investigations over the years, which includes being accused of holding customers' items hostage while demanding more money, leading to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey filing a complaint for civil contempt against the company in 2017.