Air Force Contractor Arrested on Classified Document and Firearm Charges at Joint Base San Antonio
An Air Force contractor was arrested in Comal County on federal charges on Saturday, accused of losing a classified national defense document, failing to report the loss, and bringing loaded firearms into a Secure Compartmented Information Facility, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. Zachry Wade Carroll, 47, of San Antonio, faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison if convicted on all counts detailed in a federal indictment filed by U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons.
Indictment Details Lost Defense Documents and SCIF Firearm Possession
The federal indictment outlines multiple security violations spanning several months at Joint Base San Antonio. In April 2025, Carroll allegedly lost a classified document concerning national defense and did not promptly notify a superior officer, as reported by justice.gov. In November 2025, investigators claim Carroll knowingly carried a loaded .380-caliber firearm on his person while working inside a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility at Joint Base San Antonio – Kelly Annex.
Authorities also discovered a loaded AR-15 rifle equipped with 85 rounds of ammunition across three magazines, alongside a loaded 9mm handgun with 20 rounds in three magazines, inside Carroll’s vehicle parked on the base. When base personnel asked if he was armed, Carroll allegedly denied having the unauthorized .380-caliber firearm on his person.
Federal Court Appearance and Pending Investigation
Carroll made his initial appearance in a federal court in San Antonio on Saturday. He is formally charged with one count of losing national defense information, two counts of possession of a firearm in a federal facility, and one count of making false statements.
A federal district court judge will determine any potential sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are leading the ongoing inquiry. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Kirk Mangels are prosecuting the case. An indictment serves merely as an allegation, and all defendants retain the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Joint Base San Antonio Case
What specific charges does Zachry Wade Carroll face?
Carroll is charged with one count of losing national defense information, two counts of possessing a firearm in a federal facility, and one count of making false statements. If convicted on every count, he faces up to 17 years in federal prison.
Which agencies are investigating the contractor?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations are conducting the joint investigation into the security breaches at Joint Base San Antonio.
Where did the alleged security violations occur?
The incidents took place at Joint Base San Antonio, specifically involving a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility at the Kelly Annex and a vehicle parked on the installation, with the arrest taking place in Comal County.
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