Drumright man indicted in Department of Defense sting operation

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ A Drumight man could face imprisonment and fines if he and his family's company are convicted of making inadequate and improper repairs to national defense equipment in order

Friday, October 25th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ A Drumight man could face imprisonment and fines if he and his family's company are convicted of making inadequate and improper repairs to national defense equipment in order to save money.

A federal indictment against Christopher S. Key and Oilton-based Key Enterprises Inc., was unsealed late Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

A grand jury returned the indictment against Christopher Key, the company's manager, in May.

``Both Chris Key and Key Enterprises deny all of the allegations made in this indictment,' Key's defense attorney, James C. Lang, said Thursday.

Key, 32, and the company allegedly falsified Federal Aviation Administration ``airworthiness approval tags'' relating to the repair of jet engine combustion chambers belonging to the Defense Department in 1999.

Putting the tags on the equipment means the company certified that repairs had been made properly and in accordance with FAA regulations and industry standards.

Faulty repairs similar to those that Key Enterprises is accused of making have resulted in the destruction of aircraft engines by fire and explosion.

The Department of Defense's Criminal Investigative Service discovered the alleged conduct through a sting operation.

Key could face a term of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. The company could be fined $500,000.

Key's father, Gary Key, and Key Enterprises were charged by information in August for similar offenses.

But the U.S. Attorney's office dropped the case against Gary Key, the company's chief executive officer, and the company last week.