Military Products Executive Guilty of Paying Kickbacks
An executive at a Fullerton company that makes aerospace and shipboard products for the military pleaded guilty Friday to three federal charges of paying $3,000 in kickbacks to garner work from a defense contractor.
Richard J. Kern, vice president of Kern Engineering and Manufacturing Corp., faces up to 30 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. He remained free on bond Friday until his sentencing, which is scheduled Dec. 18 in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana.
Kern, son of the company’s president, Roland Kern, was accused of kicking back monthly payments to a manager at a Hollister company, Quantic Industries Inc., to secure four subcontracts for defense work.
In two contracts for the Air Force and two for the Navy, Kern Engineering collected nearly $36,600 over a three-year period.
Donald Cleveland, a Quantic manager, is expected to enter a plea Monday on three counts of accepting kickbacks.
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