SAN DIEGO : Two Firms Fined in False Bids Case

A San Diego federal judge Monday fined two wholesale welding firms $20,000 each for their roles in false bids for U.S. Navy contracts.

Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Enright fined both San Diego Welder’s Supply Co. and El Cajon Valley Welder’s Supply Inc., federal prosecutors said. The firms had pleaded guilty Jan. 20 to a sole felony count of deliberately concealing facts from the Navy while bidding on government contracts, Assistant U.S. Atty. Marian E. McGuire said.

In 1988, McGuire said, Andrew Castiglione owned San Diego Welder’s Supply while his wife owned El Cajon Valley Welder’s Supply. The two firms exchanged information before bidding on Navy contracts for welding supplies, knowing that the Navy had no knowledge of their improper collusion, McGuire said.

The firms pleaded guilty to concealing facts on an October, 1988, contract worth $4,022.84, and a December, 1988, contract worth $3,300, McGuire said.