Former Boeing procurement officer pleads guilty for taking bribes

ST. LOUIS—A former procurement officer for the Boeing Co. in St. Louis pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for his role in a bribery and kickback scheme involving military aircraft parts sold to Boeing.

Deon Anderson, 47, of St. Louis, admitted to three felony counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of currency structuring.

Anderson faces sentencing on Oct. 15.

Anderson was convicted of taking bribes from companies seeking to sell parts for military aircraft to Boeing in exchange for providing them with confidential information such as competitor bids.

Federal prosecutors say Globe Dynamics International Inc. owner William Boozer, 59, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., conspired with Anderson from November 2009 through February 2013.

Anderson gave Boozer confidential financial information through coded language in phone calls and emails.

Boozer used the information to win government purchasing contracts from Boeing worth more than US$1.5 million.

Boozer pleaded guilty in May.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 15.

His company, based in Santa Ana, Calif., produces machine parts and assembles complex components for the defence industry.

Anderson also admitted to a similar scheme involving two other businessmen, Robert Diaz Jr., owner of the consulting firm Inland Empire and Associates of Las Vegas, and Jeffrey Lavelle, owner of J.L. Manufacturing, Inc. of Everett, Wash.

J.L. Manufacturing was awarded parts contracts valued at more than US$2 million in bidding from 2011 to 2013.

Inland Empire consulted for J.L. Manufacturing on Boeing subcontracts, according to court papers.

Diaz, 54, of Alta Loma, Calif., pleaded guilty earlier this year and is facing sentencing on Sept. 2.

Lavelle’s case has not yet gone to trial.

A message seeking comment from his attorney was not immediately returned.