Despite a growing corruption investigation, the Navy has allowed a defense contractor in the middle of a federal contracts-for-cash probe to keep working with the government, the company says. Under an agreement between the Navy and Kuchera Defense Systems of Windber, Pa., the company has made changes in its accounting practices in exchange for authority to seek government contracts again, Kuchera's lawyer said Thursday night.
The Navy alleged fraud when it suspended the company, which has grown in recent years because of millions of dollars in congressional earmarks sponsored by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.