Posted on 11/29/2005 8:19:48 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - A man who tried to sell fighter jet parts to China and falsely certified the quality of other aircraft parts was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison by a judge who called him "a menace to worldwide air safety."
Amanullah Khan was sentenced Monday to 15 years and eight months by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, who also ordered him to pay $5.4 million in restitution. The sentence came two years after Khan, 56, interrupted his jury trial to plead guilty to 12 felony counts of conspiracy and aircraft parts fraud.
Authorities said that between 2000 and 2002 Khan's company, United Aircraft & Electronics of Anaheim, sold a grip assembly for Bell helicopters that it certified was made of steel when the part was really made of aluminum, which has a much shorter lifespan. Khan also sold used turbine blades and other critical parts for jet aircraft that he certified were new.
In the China case, which was brought separately by the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Khan pleaded guilty to conspiracy and violating the Arms Export Control Act.
Authorities said he was caught in a sting called Operation Dark Star in which he attempted to sell the fighter jet parts to undercover agents he thought were Chinese arms brokers.
"Hey! Evelything we buy something flom you guys, it's good! This stuff bad! We no want bad stuff! You get this guy for us! He no good! We pay good money for good parts; these no good parts!"
Actually, the Chinese officals' English is way better than that.
Not sure why this guy is jailed while Clinton goes free.
Better than 60% of the native US population, I am certain.
But when a contractor here in the USA does this to the Air Force, they get a slap on the wrist and have to requalify as a supplier and re-compete for the contract.
Khan. The name seems so familiar...
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