Posted on: Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Boeing conspiracy case nets guilty plea

By Matthew Daly
Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A former Air Force official pleaded guilty to conspiracy yesterday for secretly negotiating for a job with Boeing Co. while she oversaw the Pentagon's consideration of a multibillion-dollar contract with the aviation giant.

Darleen A. Druyun, 56, of Vienna, Va., entered the plea in U.S. District Court to a single count of conspiracy, which carries a maximum five years in prison.

"I deeply regret my actions, and I want to apologize," Druyun said, her voice breaking slightly. She will be sentenced Aug. 6, and faces a fine of up to $250,000, in addition to possible prison time.

Druyun was an Air Force procurement officer before becoming a vice president at Boeing. She and former Boeing Chief Financial Officer Michael Sears were the subject of a federal grand jury investigation of the Air Force's plan to acquire 100 refueling tankers from the Chicago-based jet maker.

Boeing fired Druyun and Sears in November for what the company termed unethical behavior.

Prosecutors said Sears improperly contacted Druyun about a possible top-level job in 2002, when she still was in the Air Force and playing a key role in deciding whether Boeing should get the tanker contract, which could be worth as much as $23 billion.

Druyun retired from the Air Force in November 2002 and joined Boeing in January 2003 as deputy general manager of a missile unit.

The tanker contract, eventually awarded to Boeing, has been suspended pending review.