Ex-Aerospace Worker Admits Accepting Kickbacks

A former aerospace worker admitted in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles Monday that he accepted $1,970 in kickbacks on subcontracts for the B-52 bomber and two Navy jet fighters.

Kenneth Leroy Pipho, 43, of Sun Valley was one of 19 men charged in July in Operation DEFCON, a sweeping investigation by the FBI and other agencies into kickbacks within the Southern California defense industry.

Pipho’s latest admission followed his guilty pleas Aug. 4 to fraud and tax evasion while he was a senior buyer for Whittaker Controls Inc. of North Hollywood. He was terminated following his indictment, Assistant U.S. Atty. Fred D. Heather said.

The kickbacks involved work on the B-52, the F-18 and F-16 fighters and the Navy’s CH-53 helicopter.

The bribes were paid by Rex Niles, a sales representative for several defense subcontractors, who became a government witness in the Operation DEFCON probe.

U.S. District Judge Pamela Ann Rymer set sentencing on all three charges for Oct. 20.

Pipho faces a maximum 12-year prison sentence and up to $111,000 in fines.

Nine Operation DEFCON defendants have pleaded guilty. Trials are pending for the other defendants.