Father, Son Plead Guilty to Providing Military Poor Steel

A father and son who operate an Orange County steel supply firm pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to charges that they sold inferior steel to the Defense Department that “potentially jeopardized” the lives of U.S. military personnel.

Donald R. Bigalke, 53, president of District International Supply Co. of Costa Mesa, and his son, Timothy D. Bigalke, 30, the firm’s vice president, pleaded guilty to five charges of mail fraud in connection with the sale of steel not treated with certain alloy additives as specified in defense contracts, Assistant U.S. Atty. Manuel Medrano said.

The two men also agreed to pay more than $236,000 to the government for invoices fraudulently submitted for the steel, most of which was shipped in 1984, Medrano said.

Needed Strengthening

Federal authorities said the steel supplied by the men was not treated with such alloy additives as titanium, columbium or tantalum. The treatment would have made the metal more durable and able to withstand corrosion and heat stress.

The high-quality steel contracted for by the Defense Department is suitable for use in aircraft exhaust manifolds, jet engine parts and fire walls.

The inferior nature of the steel was discovered during heat tests conducted by the military, federal authorities said.

Medrano said he was unaware of any instance in which the steel supplied by the Costa Mesa firm actually endangered people’s lives or caused damage to military aircraft or equipment.

Potential Was There

However, the inferior metal “potentially jeopardized” military lives, because welded joints could fail, he said.

In the indictment returned against the men two months ago, federal authorities told of one instance in which the metal supplied by the company had been intended for use on a B-52 bomber. However, it was never used after the steel failed heat tests.

Each of the men faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, Medrano said.

Sentencing before U.S. District Judge Richard A. Gadbois Jr. was set for Sept. 11.

In addition to the criminal proceedings, federal authorities filed a $1.1-million civil complaint against the two men and the firm to recover money and penalties, because of the false claims submitted to the government.