Former NASA Contractor Employee Convicted For Scam Substituting Chinese Steel Tubing for Rocket Fuel Lines
By Space Coast Daily // December 24, 2019
Yun faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – A federal jury has found Seongchan “Steven” Yun, 32, Redondo Beach, California, guilty of providing a false document to a federal agency.
Yun faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 2, 2020.
Yun was indicted on March 13, 2019.
According to evidence presented at trial, Yun was an employee at CBOL Corporation, a company that provided parts and materials to the aerospace industry, including NASA.
In the summer of 2014, Yun handled a contract that required CBOL to provide stainless steel tubing to carry hypergolic fuel (rocket fuel) for use in support of NASA’s Space Launch System/Orion project at Kennedy Space Center.
The contract required that the steel tubing originate from the United States. During the procurement, Yun received steel tubing originating from China.
Instead of replacing the tubing with materials from the United States, Yun covered up the foreign origin of the parts on documentation that accompanied the parts.
He then caused the steel tubing to be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center and later prepared a certification falsely certifying that the steel tubing conformed to all of NASA’s requirements.
The steel tubing ultimately failed materials testing conducted by NASA regarding its suitability for use in NASA’s fueling programs.
“The NASA Office of Inspector General will continue to aggressively investigate those who undermine and defraud NASA efforts to build the SLS launch vehicle and it’s systems,” said Special Agent in Charge John Corbett, Central Field Office.
“This jury verdict serves as a staunch reminder that such conduct will not be tolerated.”
This case was investigated by the NASA – Office of Inspector General and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney E. Jackson Boggs Jr.
Related Story:WANTED: Melbourne Police Department Seeks Edward Fishmon Jr. for Burglary With Assault
