Security Firm for John Wayne, Long Beach Airports Is Accused

A company that provided security guards at John Wayne and Long Beach airports following the Sept. 11 attacks faces revocation of its operating license after a state investigation uncovered fraud and misrepresentation by the Oakland firm, authorities said Wednesday.

Stealth Security Services Inc. used dozens of unlicensed security guards, allowed some guards to carry firearms on the job without permits and submitted phony bills to its clients, according to the probe by the state Department of Consumer Affairs.

Stealth provided security guards to patrol the air traffic control towers at John Wayne and Long Beach airports under 90-day contracts beginning in November 2001. The company also has a contract to guard the Mill Valley Long Range Radar Site in Northern California.

An administrative law judge ruled last month in favor of revoking all licenses related to the firm; the ruling was announced this week.

The consumer department’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, which regulates the private security industry in California, also said that James Henry Williams and Archena D. Sharma acted as fronts for Javed Aslam, whose license for another private security business was facing revocation when Stealth Security was created in January 2000.

Aslam’s license was revoked after he was convicted of a weapons charge and other violations of rules governing private patrol operators, authorities said.

He negotiated contracts for Stealth Security and routinely identified himself as the company’s chief financial officer, bureau investigators said.

Sharma said the judge’s ruling against Stealth “seems unjust and unfair. There is not a single allegation against the company. All the allegations they have are against Javed, and he has nothing to do with the company.”

She said the ruling has been appealed but a hearing date had not been set.