Fraud, false claims and defective pricing continue to be an issue in government contracting. The story behind Darleen Druyun and the impact she had on America's refueling tankers and the C-130 transports is a prime example of how a lack of oversight can lead to significant consequences. http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%253A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%253A658155a6-8b08-41b7-8947-73715b239d23Links to an external site.

It appears that the above link may not be available or is not working with all browsers. If that is the case try the following: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48241-2004Nov13.htmlLinks to an external site. or http://www.govexec.com/defense/2004/10/ex-pentagon-procurement-executive-gets-jail-time/17737/Links to an external site.

While she secured a job for her daughter, son-in-law and herself, after she left the Air Force, her activities with the Air Force and later at Boeing cost the US billions and delayed programs. In 2004, in return for her guilty plea, she received 9 months in jail, a $5,000 fine, 200 hours of community service and she was able to keep her pension. Was the crime worth the time?

What suggestions do you have for combating fraud? Are the False Claims Act and the criminal statutes sufficient? Is it an enforcement and/or punishment issue?