A Florida man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to NASA’s space launch system and is facing up to 20 years in prison.
Steven Lukens, 54, of Port Charlotte, has agreed to forfeit $271,024.35 in the case as well.
Lukens was the CEO of Gulf Atlantic International Supply, LLC.
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According to the State Attorney’s Office, Gulf Atlantic entered a sub-contract with another company to get materials for NASA’s space launch system at Kennedy Space Center.
According to the Department of Justice, Lukens submitted products that did not meet the quality standards and specifications required under the contract and then fraudulently led the contracted company to believe that the products met the required standards by submitting forged quality control documentation.
Authorities say in total, Lukens submitted at least 191 fraudulent quality control documents to the company.
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These included fraudulent Certificates of Compliance, fraudulent Pressure Testing Certificates, and fraudulent test reports.
Lukens’s materially false, fraudulent, and misleading representations caused the contracted company to pay Gulf Atlantic at least $271,024.35 for the parts it submitted.
The NASA Office of Inspector General investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie.
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