Businessman Admits Plot to Rig Stealth Bomber Bids

The chief executive of a Glendale company pleaded guilty Monday in Los Angeles federal court to fraud charges involving subcontracting work on the Air Force’s top-secret Stealth bomber.

In entering the pleas, Charles F. Lombard, 55, chief executive officer of Lamsco West Inc. of Glendale, admitted to charges that he approached a competitor with a scheme to fix bid prices for a high-technology laminated substance called Kapton Shim. It is used to connect the wings of the Stealth bomber to its fuselage.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Fred D. Heather said the scheme was discovered when officials of a Lombard competitor, Blaisdell Manufacturing Inc. of Brea, contacted federal authorities after they were approached last May by Lombard.

The bids were to be submitted to Northrop Corp. and Boeing Co., which do the major work on the Stealth bomber, the plane earmarked to replace the aging B-52.

Lamsco West is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alinabal Inc. of Milford, Conn. Lombard, a resident of Branford, Conn., is vice chairman of Alinabal, Heather said.

Besides Lombard’s guilty pleas to two counts of mail fraud and wire fraud, an attorney representing Lamsco West entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud on behalf of the company.

Heather said that Lombard has agreed to talk to federal investigators about other possible fraud schemes affecting Southern California’s defense industry.

Lombard faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Lamsco West faces a maximum fine of $500,000, Heather said.

U.S. District Judge David V. Kenyon set sentencing for April 21.