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National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Office of Inspector General
Washington, D.C. 20546

March 31, 2003

RELEASE 2003-026: COMPANY PLEADS GUILTY IN AIRCRAFT PARTS SCHEME

On March 20, 2003, Herco Aircraft Machine, Inc. (Herco) pled guilty
to one count of mail fraud in the U.S. District Court, Western
District of Texas, San Antonio Division.  Herco was indicted on
September 4, 2002. Herco manufactures aircraft parts for both
government and commercial aircraft.  Herco manufactured adapter plate
assemblies that were substandard and not in compliance with all
required specifications. The Herco adapter plate assemblies are used
on the Northrop Grumman T-38 and F-5 aircrafts.  NASA uses Herco
assemblies in its T-38 astronaut training aircraft.  Sentencing is
scheduled for April 17, 2003. 

This investigation was conducted by the NASA Office of Inspector 
General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Service 
Office of Inspector General, U.S. Air Force Office of Special 
Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. 
Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General.  Assistant 
U.S. Attorney Kelly Loving, Western District of Texas, San Antonio,
is handling the prosecution.

For more information on this release, please contact Joseph Kroener, 
Acting Executive Officer, NASA Office of Inspector General at (202) 
358-2558.

Previous Releases:  2002-092
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/press/pr2002-092.html

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