A federal grand jury returned a 36-count indictment charging Jerry Edward Kuwata (60), Michael Dennis Maupin (58), Scott Hamilton Durham (39), Christopher Warren MacQueen (53), Douglas Arthur Johnson (52), and Anthony Vincent Zito (47) with conspiracy and fraud. The charges involved aircraft parts sold in interstate commerce while the accused worked for Weco Aerospace Systems, an FAA-certified repair station based in Lincoln, Calif. Gulfstream acquired the company in 2007. A spokesman for Gulfstream told AIN, “The actions in question occurred before Gulfstream’s acquisition of Weco. Gulfstream is cooperating thoroughly with all investigating parties and none of the individuals indicted remain with the company.” The indictment alleges the defendants knowingly cut corners in repairing aircraft parts and concealed the fact that they were not complying with FAA regulations. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty for conspiracy to commit fraud and fraud involving aircraft parts in interstate commerce of 15 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 and three years of supervised release. The maximum statutory penalty for each count of mail fraud is 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and a three-year term of supervised release. AIN's attempts to contact the accused for comment were unsuccessful.