Former Defense Contractors Are Jailed for Fraud

Two former executives of a defense contractor, including one from Simi Valley, Calif., were sentenced to federal prison Friday after being convicted of defense procurement fraud, according to U.S. Atty. William F. Weld.

John S. Upton, 48, of Beverly, Mass., was sentenced Friday to five years and fined $25,000 by Judge James L. Watson. Upton was also ordered to forfeit all the stock that he continues to hold in Hybrid Components Inc., of Beverly, Weld said.

Jere T. Willis, 35, of Simi Valley, Calif., was sentenced to three years in prison.

According to Weld, Upton was formerly president and Willis vice president of Hybrid Components, a manufacturer of semiconductor devices for the defense industry and for other high technology products.

Hybrid was required by its contracts and specifications to subject semiconductor products to a rigorous set of tests. However, Weld said, between January, 1982, and May, 1984, the defendants failed to conduct required tests and falsely certified to customers that required testing had been done.