Rohr Workers Targets of Probe
Rohr Inc. said Tuesday that an on-going federal investigation into “various acts of employees” at the company’s Riverside manufacturing plant might result in criminal and civil charges.
In a prepared release, Rohr said that the federal probe focuses on the “production of parts, the recording of information which is a part of the product process and the company’s testing practices.”
Rohr officials said the company has done nothing that would have “an adverse effect on the safety or utilization of its products.”
The investigation is concentrating on Rohr’s Riverside plant, and has not touched Rohr’s Chula Vista operations, Miller said.
Chula Vista-based Rohr could face suspension and debarment proceedings, which could affect current and future government contracts, if criminal and civil charges are brought. Rohr also could face “substantial” fines and damages.
U.S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Carol Levitsky in Los Angeles confirmed that an investigation is under way. But she declined to discuss the substance of the investigation, which is being jointly conducted with the Defense Department.
Rohr Vice President Ron Miller said the company doesn’t know how many employees or which military programs are being investigated: “All we know is that it’s an on-going investigation.”
Rohr’s 3,500 employees in Riverside produce engine components for a number of commercial and military aircraft, including the F-14 fighter, the C-5 transport and the KC-135 tanker.
Government contracts account for about 15% of Rohr’s $1.3 billion in annual revenue. The company acts largely as a subcontractor to prime contractors who build various military and commercial aircraft.
In another announcement on Tuesday, Rohr said that the U.S. Air Force is considering termination of a contract to provide 206 engine pylons for the C-5 military transport. The Air Force has ordered Rohr to “explain why the delayed delivery of four C-5 (engine) pylons should not be grounds for termination” of the pylon contract.
The company said “it has satisfactory reasons” for the late delivery of pylons, although it did not elaborate. The company said it already has delivered pylons valued at $38.6 million.
