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Man Gets 10 Years For Stealing Laptops From Outback, Others

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune
and ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

TAMPA - A man who stole scores of laptop computers across the country, then sold them on eBay, was sentenced to 10 years in prison today.

U.S. District Judge James Moody imposed the maximum statutory sentence on Eric Brandon Almly, 34, exceeding federal sentencing guidelines by two years.

"The only way to protect the public from Mr. Almly is to keep him in prison," Moody said. "He has lived his entire life, practically, stealing."

Almly was arrested in 2007 by Tampa police after he stole 11 portable computers from Outback Steakhouse's corporate headquarters. He was implicated in a wave of similar thefts dating to 2004.

Toni Brown, a Phoenix police detective who testified at the sentencing, said Almly called her in 2004 flaunting his prowess.

"He said, 'I'm a master at the game, you'll never catch me,'" she recounted.

Almly filed notice immediately after the sentencing that he planned to appeal it. He also denied Brown's accusations.

"That is absolute fiction," he said.

Almly pleaded guilty June 18 to interstate transportation of stolen property. He said his thieving was fueled by a gambling addiction.

"I felt all I needed was one good night at the casino and I wouldn't have to do this anymore," he said. "I had no right to do what I've done. I apologize. I feel horrible."

Moody wasn't swayed.

In the plea agreement, Almly said he began stealing laptops as early as October 2004, when he took eight from Callaway Golf of Carlsbad, Calif.

From then until March 2007, he stole more than 80 laptops from companies, including Burger King, in Carlsbad, San Diego, Miami and Tampa.

Using about two dozen aliases, he sold the stolen laptops to people in California, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Texas and Wisconsin.

When Almly took the computers from the Outback offices March 27, 2007, he wore khaki pants and a polo shirt and was clean-shaven and well-spoken. He blended in so well, Tampa police said, that he managed to stuff 11 laptops into a black duffel bag, get past a security guard and drive away.

Police were tipped off that the computers were being sold on eBay, information that led them to Almly, who was arrested at his Miami Beach residence.

Inside Almly's apartment, police found three of the 11 computers stolen from Outback. Four had been sold on eBay, and the remaining four have not been found, Tampa police Detective Larry Brass said.

Representatives from Outback and Federal Express asked for harsh punishment for Almly, saying the damage went far beyond the cost of the computers.

"Thieves need to understand this is not a simple [insurance] write-off; it is a large, expensive dilemma," said Tom Colgan of Outback.

Moody ordered Almly to pay $144,729 in restitution to his victims once he is out of prison.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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