KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Federal prosecutors have accused two Lake City Army Ammunition plant workers of stealing bullet cups from the facility and selling them for their copper.

"These little bullet cups … were taken to a salvage yard in Moberly, Mo., according to the indictment, and instead of being used for ammunition, and that's a very serious federal offense," said Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cowles.

Charles Dale Osborn, 45, of Odessa, Mo., and Timothy Duane Langevin, 36, of Independence, Mo., could spend multiple 30-year terms in a penitentiary if convicted.

"Anyone who interrupts the flow of war material to troops in a time of national emergency, which we have been in since 9-11, that's considered a very serious federal offense," Cowles said.

Federal prosecutors said the men stole more than 16,000 pounds of the copper jackets used to make bullets sent to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and that resulted in fewer bullets manufactured.

"It was over 8 tons that could have produced about 1.5 million rounds of ammunition," Cowles said.

And in a time of war, prosecutors said it could be considered sabotage, a charge they've rarely used.

"It's not very common that someone dares to interrupt the flow of ammunition to the troops," Cowles said.

Osborn and Langevin were employed as machine repairmen at the plant. They allegedly shared about $45,000 in proceeds from salvaging the copper material.