Elaine Thomas, Falsifying Test Results, Washington 2021

The former Director of Metallurgy at Bradken Inc., Elaine Thomas, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $50,000 fine for falsifying test results on steel parts for U.S. Navy submarines.

Thomas, 67, of Auburn, Washington, pleaded guilty on November 8, 2021, to major fraud against the United States. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said it was ‘a crime of pride and ego, that in some way she knew better than those who set the standards.’

For 32 years, Elaine Thomas betrayed the trust of the United States Navy, knowingly placing its sailors and military operations at risk. She falsely stated that steel Bradken produced met critical specifications – standards developed to keep our military personnel safe – and allowed inferior steel to go to Navy subs in half the orders she reviewed.

U.S. Attorney Nick Brown stated, ‘For 32 years, Elaine Thomas betrayed the trust of the United States Navy, knowingly placing its sailors and military operations at risk.’

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said, ‘Our Sailors and Marines depend upon high quality products and services from our contractors to safely and effectively meet the worldwide mission of the Department of the Navy.’

According to records filed in the case, Bradken is the U.S. Navy’s leading supplier of high-yield steel castings for naval submarines. Bradken’s Tacoma foundry produces castings that prime contractors use to fabricate submarine hulls. The Navy requires that the steel meets certain standards for strength and toughness to ensure that it does not fail under certain circumstances, such as a collision.

Bradken entered into a deferred prosecution agreement in April 2020, accepting responsibility for the offense and agreeing to take remedial measures. Bradken also entered into a civil settlement, paying $10,896,924 to resolve allegations that the foundry produced and sold substandard steel components for installation on U.S. Navy submarines.

The Navy has taken extensive steps to ensure the safe operation of 30 affected submarines, resulting in increased costs and maintenance as some of the substandard parts are monitored. To date, the Navy has spent nearly $14 million, including 50,000 hours of engineering work, to assess the parts and risk to the submarines.

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