The Region : Engineer Admits Bilking Government

A former Hughes Aircraft engineer accused of bilking the government out of $90,000 on military and space projects has pleaded guilty in Los Angeles federal court to fraud charges. Joseph Montross, 56, of Port Hueneme, admitted turning in more than 1,000 false expense and travel vouchers during a four-year period that ended in February when he was fired from his job as a supervisor with engineering services at Hughes’ Space & Communications Division in El Segundo. U.S. District Judge Richard Gadbois set sentencing for May 19. Montross faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each of two charges.