Expected Plea May Aid Boeing Probe [View All]

[banana republican]

Former Boeing Co. Chief Financial Officer Michael Sears, expected to plead guilty today to violating U.S. federal conflict of interest laws, could provide a big boost for investigators looking into the Air Force's growing procurement scandal.

By pleading to a single charge of aiding and abetting illegal employment negotiations in late 2002 with Darleen Druyun, the Air Force's second-highest acquisition official at the time, Mr. Sears is setting the stage to provide additional details about their dealings, according to government and industry officials.

His cooperation also could shed more light on what other Boeing officials knew about efforts to curry favor with Ms. Druyun and recruit her for a job before she removed herself from authority over company business with the Air Force.

As part of his plea in federal court in Alexandria, Va., Mr. Sears isn't expected to say he personally negotiated contracts with Ms. Druyun, or indicate he knew Boeing had received favored treatment from the Air Force. Still, government officials, industry executives and others familiar with the matter indicate he had more extensive contacts with Ms. Druyun -- and played more of a direct role in getting jobs for members of her family -- than the government has previously indicated.

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