Steel Supply Co. President, Son Sentenced for Defrauding U.S.

A father and son who operate a Costa Mesa steel supply company were sentenced to prison in Los Angeles Wednesday after pleading guilty to selling inferior steel to the Pentagon.

Donald R. Bigalke, 53, president of District International Supply Co., and his son, Timothy D. Bigalke, 30, were charged by federal authorities with providing steel for use in nuclear submarines and B-52 bombers which was not heat resistant and thus “potentially jeopardized” the lives of U.S. military personnel.

U.S. District Judge Richard A. Gadbois Jr. sentenced Donald Bigalke to 18 months in prison and Timothy Bigalke, vice president of the concern, to six months. They were also ordered to repay more than $236,000 to the government.

Initially they were charged with 15 counts of mail fraud growing out of sale of the steel, which government attorneys said lacked crucial alloys. On Aug. 6 they pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud.

“Illegal substitution of inferior and below-spec products is one type of defense contractor fraud that will not be tolerated,” Assistant U.S. Atty. Manuel Medrano said when the men were indicted.