Florida CEO pleads guilty to wire fraud related to space launch system

FLORIDA — A Florida man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to NASA’s space launch system at the Kennedy Space Center, United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced on Thursday.

Steven Lukens, 54, of Port Charlotte, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and has agreed to forfeit $271,024.35, which is traceable to the proceeds of the offense.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2024.

According to the plea agreement, Mr Lukens was the Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Atlantic International Supply, LLC (Gulf Atlantic). Gulf Atlantic subcontracted with Company-1 to procure materials needed for NASA’s space launch system at the Kennedy Space Center.

However, Lukens reportedly submitted products that did not meet the quality standards and specifications required under the contract. Mr Lukens then is said to have fraudulently led Company-1 to believe that the products met the required standards by submitting forged quality control documentation.

According to the plea agreement, Lukens submitted at least 191 fraudulent quality control documents to Company-1. These included fraudulent certificates of compliance, fraudulent pressure testing certificates, and fraudulent test reports.

Mr Lukens’s materially false, fraudulent, and misleading representations caused Company-1 to pay Gulf Atlantic at least $271,024.35 for the submitted parts.

The NASA Office of Inspector General investigated this case. With assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie, Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lyons is prosecuting it.