2 Former Hughes Aircraft Buyers Given Bribe Terms

Two former buyers for Hughes Aircraft Co. were sentenced to prison Tuesday as part of a continuing federal investigation into kickbacks and bribes within the defense industry that one prosecutor called a “form of treason.”

Richard G. Moretine, 52, of San Pedro, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert M. Takasugi, who also fined Moretine $7,500 and placed him on five years’ probation.

Moretine pleaded guilty in June to taking about $2,500 in bribes from a subcontractor during his four years at Hughes.

Michael J. Johnston, 37, of Hawthorne, was sentenced to nine months in jail after he admitted that he took $600 in bribes. He also was fined $2,500 and placed on five years’ probation by Takasugi.

In addition to the money he received, Johnston admitted that he was given cocaine and custom-made shirts and was promised a cruise, to be paid for by a subcontractor, in exchange for favorable treatment of bids received by Hughes.

Moretine and Johnston were part of a continuing “system of corruption” that has plagued the defense industry, Assistant U.S. Atty. Fred D. Heather said.

Defense contractors who build vital weapons have the trust of this nation and violations of that trust are “a form of treason,” Heather said.

The prosecutor said the two men and six others are among nine defendants who have pleaded guilty to taking kickbacks on contracts involving a Canoga Park contractor, R. H. Manufacturing.

The president of that company, Richard A. Haskell, approached FBI agents about the scheme of kickbacks and bribery at Hughes, and his cooperation with government authorities led to charges being filed against the defendants.