James Matthew Alexander, Mail Fraud, Missouri 2015

White Collar Crime

James Matthew Alexander, the President of Matthews Manufacturing, Incorporated (MMI), a local defense contractor based in Chesterfield, MO, pleaded guilty to a scheme to defraud the United States related to the construction of shipping containers for use with the F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft.

The scheme involved altering the original white alpha-numeric marking indicating the actual cure date of the shock mounts MMI received from the manufacturer. Alexander and MMI then shipped the containers with the altered shock mounts bearing false and forged cure dates to the government.

As a result of the fraud, payments by the government to MMI for delivered F414 High Pressure Turbine Module Shipping Containers totaled $120,536.

Alexander pleaded guilty to one felony count of mail fraud before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber on Thursday, December 10, 2015.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Charles Birmingham is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A co-defendant, Larry Charles Maxwell, Jr., of St. Louis, MO, was indicted on related charges. He is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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