US prosecutors are continuing to probe Boeing's executive ranks after turning former chief financial officer Michael Sears, who pleaded guilty last week to a conflict-of-interest charge, into a potential witness.
US attorney Paul McNulty will continue to seek others on Boeing's executive team who were involved with Sears in illegally opening job negotiations with former US Air Force acquisition official Darleen Druyun while she was in office.
Sears has signed a plea bargaining agreement requiring him to co-operate in the investigation. Court documents show he contacted several others in Boeing about his meetings with Druyun.
So far, his disclosures have been limited to issues involved in his guilty plea, which admitted to one count of aiding and abetting acts affecting a personal financial interest.
"The defendant will provide more detailed facts relating to this case during ensuing debriefings," says a plea agreement filed in the US Federal Court on 15 November. Sears must undergo lie detector tests and provide all documents and materials "relating directly or indirectly to all areas of inquiry and investigation".
Boeing asserted last week that "no Boeing executive other than Mr Sears engaged in any wrongdoing in connection with Ms Druyun's hiring".
Druyun has admitted her guilt in the improper job negotiations and faces a nine-month prison sentence. In addition, she has acknowledged inflating several Boeing contracts in an effort to improve her job prospects with the company.
Druyun's case has prompted the US Air Force to launch a sweeping review of the structure of its acquisition management system.
Source: Flight International