San Diego
George Straza, the former El Cajon jet parts manufacturer convicted of defrauding a government contractor by double-dealing in engine components, was sentenced Friday to more than four years in federal prison for violating his probation in a separate case.
After sentencing Straza, U.S. District Judge William Enright agreed to allow the 58-year-old Rancho Santa Fe resident to remain free during the holidays. He was ordered to surrender to authorities on Jan. 11.
Straza, the former chief of the now-defunct Jet Air Inc., was convicted in September on 43 counts of conspiracy, theft of government property, mail fraud and issuing false invoices. Prosecutors say the businessman and two other Jet Air employees defrauded Pratt & Whitney, a government contractor, by charging the company for 90 jet engine burner cans that were in fact sold to Aerospace Innovators Ltd. of Manhattan Beach. The scheme netted Straza and his allies $239,000 in personal profit, government officials charged.
In October, Straza was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $239,000 for his part in the conspiracy. The businessman is appealing.
Friday’s sentence relates to a 1984 case in which Straza pleaded guilty to making false statements to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in connection with a $2.4-million contract to manufacture parts for the space shuttle.
In that case, Straza agreed to pay $690,000 to NASA and was placed on five years’ probation after serving six months in prison.
When Straza was convicted in the Pratt & Whitney conspiracy, it constituted a violation of his probation, prompting Enright to impose the additional prison time. Enright ruled that Friday’s sentence can run concurrently with the three years Straza will serve for his other conviction, meaning his total extra time in custody will be 18 months.
In court Friday, Straza told Enright he believes he will be “fully vindicated” in the future.
“Your honor, I’ve got to tell you the truth,” the flamboyant businessman said. “I don’t know what I did. I’m totally confused . . . I believe I have been set up as a target.”
Straza’s attorney, Michael McCabe, asked that his client be allowed to remain free on appeal for the probation violation because he is awaiting a decision on his appeal of the most recent conviction.
In yet another case, Straza and Costa, 50, face trial next spring on charges of fraud and making false statements related to a $250,000 Jet Air contract to refurbish engine air seals on Air Force F-15 and F-16 jets.
