Aviation Exec Accused of Selling Feds Bad Parts

BROOKLYN (CN) - The head of an aviation parts company was arrested Monday amid claims that he knowingly sold defective parts to the U.S. military that endangered the lives of service members.

The charges against Paul Skiscim were announced Monday by Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Robert Capers.

Skiscism, 62, is accused of selling the defective parts between 2003 and 2013 through his company, Aerospec Inc.

His jig was up when feds caught on and disbarred him from doing business with the government in 2013, according to prosecutors.

However, the government says the East Northport, N.Y., resident then created a shell company to pull in $2.8 million in contracts to continue selling his company's defective airplane parts to the federal government.

His alleged scheme "not only violated the law but showed a callous disregard for the safety of federal employees and our military personnel," Capers said.

"It is critical that federal aircraft, including military aircraft, be built with the best parts available," he said in a statement.

Kenneth Siegler, resident agent-in-charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, said, "America's warfighters deserve the very best to perform their jobs in these difficult times."

"It is inexcusable that individuals endeavor to enrich themselves by stealing from the U.S. taxpayer through fraud, especially by denying critical goods to our service men and women combating terrorism in a hostile overseas environment," Siegler said.

Skiscim will be arraigned Monday afternoon in Central Islip.

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