Sentencing Delayed in Boeing Case

Sentencing has been postponed for a former Pentagon official who admitted illegally negotiating for a job with Boeing Co. while overseeing its contracts with the Air Force, court papers showed Monday.

It was the second sentencing postponement for Darleen Druyun, who played a major role in the early stages of a $23.5-billion Air Force plan to lease and buy 100 Boeing 767s for use as aerial refueling tankers. The proposal is on hold pending review.

Druyun, who was deputy assistant Air Force secretary for acquisition and management, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy for discussing a $250,000-a-year job with Boeing.

The new sentencing date is Oct. 1.

A source familiar with the case said that Michael Sears, Boeing’s former chief financial officer, would probably appear in court sometime before Druyun’s hearing to plead guilty to one charge of aiding and abetting Druyun’s hiring. A date for that hearing has not yet been set.

Chicago-based Boeing, the No. 2 Pentagon contractor, fired Druyun and Sears in November after discovering the two violated company ethics rules by discussing a job while Druyun was still working on Boeing matters and then tried to cover it up.

Each faces a fine of up to $250,000 and five years in prison.