Defense contractor charged in purported fraud

Associated Press

FOLCROFT, Pa.

The president and majority owner of a southeastern Pennsylvania defense contractor is facing federal charges in connection with accusations the company fraudulently billed $1.2 million for work on Chinook helicopter components.

Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia charged Kenneth Narzikul on Thursday with major fraud against the United States, obstruction of auditors and submitting false claims. His company, NP Precision Inc., was making drive shaft couplings for Chinooks for the U.S. Army.

Court records did not list a lawyer for the 59-year-old Narzikul and a message left at NP Precision’s office in Folcroft on Friday was not immediately returned.

NP Precision won two contracts in 2007 to manufacture 726 drive shaft couplings over seven years.

Prosecutors say the alleged fraud continued until federal investigators searched the company’s machine shop in May 2013.