San Diego

A June 2 trial date in U.S. District Court was set Monday for Jet Air Inc. and its owner, George Straza, a defense contractor accused of defrauding the government.

Another hearing was tentatively scheduled for Dec. 8 on allegations that Straza, 57, is actually running the El Cajon-based company, instead of being a consultant as required under a NASA agreement.

Assistant U.S. Atty. George Hardy told Judge John Rhoades that Straza has been “debarred” from running the company because of his 1984 convictions on similar charges. Hardy said Straza had agreed to only be a consultant, but he was now trying to run the company.

Defense attorney Michael McCabe told the judge that Straza has appeared at the company to talk to engineers about refurbishing engine parts because he was unable to describe such parts over the phone.

One of the requirements of bail for Straza is that he limit his contacts with the company.

The indictment alleges that Jet Air made defective repairs on engine seals for F-15 and F-16 fighter planes and then lied about quality control inspections. The firm also was alleged to have stolen about $25,000 worth of gold from worn-out parts.

Straza, Jet Air, and its vice president, Joao Jaime Costa, 49, were indicted by a federal grand jury in August.