ICE supervisory special agent arrested following Office of Professional Responsibility investigation

NEWARK, N.J. - A supervisory special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing government property and selling it on eBay following an investigation by U.S. ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

Steven Kucan, 47, of Wood Ridge, N.J., was arrested on a complaint charging him with one count of theft of government property. Kucan supervised an administrative group at ICE's offices in New York, and was responsible for obtaining, storing and controlling ICE equipment. While serving in that capacity, Kucan regularly stole ICE property between December 2004 and February 2011. He had led the group since the 1990s.

Kucan maintained an eBay account in the name of a relative through which he sold approximately $37,000 worth of ICE property - including printer cartridges, film, batteries, camera lenses, combat lights for ICE's M-4 rifles, and an immersion suit designed to prevent hypothermia in cold water. ICE employees reported they saw Kucan wheel ICE property out of the offices on carts, including one who saw him visit the offices to remove property on a Saturday.

Agents found numerous items of ICE property stored at Kucan's residence, including personal computers, printers, keyboards, police batons, flashlights, work gloves, safety glasses, lifejackets, helmets, handcuffs, gun holsters, camera lenses, emergency lights and sirens, and two-way radio systems - items with a total value of approximately $40,000.

The charge against Kucan carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory K. Null; and ICE OPR, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Terence S. Opiola, for the investigation leading to the arrest.