Florida man indicted for selling military faulty parts

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A South Florida military contractor has been accused of selling the Department of Defense thousands of faulty parts.

Nestor Daniel Lopez, owner of now-defunct Damon Industries Inc. of Pompano Beach, was indicted Friday on 92 counts of submitting false documents to the military, making false claims to the government and wire fraud.

Prosecutors say his failure to heat-treat parts could have led to plane crashes and weapon breakdowns. He is accused of producing more than $600,000 worth of faulty parts for Cobra and Blackhawk helicopters, F-15 and F-18 fighter jets, machine guns, artillery pieces and grenade launchers from 1997 to 1999.

The indictment does not say if anyone was hurt or endangered by the equipment.

Lopez could be sentenced to 10 years in prison if convicted and face fines of up to $23 million.

His attorney, Paul A. Calli, said his client looks forward to vindicating himself.

Lopez was charged with 54 similar counts last April but they were dismissed. The U.S. Attorney's office did not respond to calls Friday seeking comment on why those charges were dismissed.