Published: July 17, 2009 11:57 pm      

Kuchera appealing Navy’s penalty

Kuchera Defense Systems Inc., a Windber-based defense contractor with close ties to U.S. Rep. John Murtha, is fighting the Navy’s suspension of the company from future business contracts because of “alleged fraud.”

The appeal was filed with the Office of General Counsel at the Washington Navy Yard, according to Johnstown attorney Dennis McGlynn, who represents the company and its owners.

“We have filed an appeal on behalf of Kuchera Defense Systems and William and Ronald Kuchera to the Department of Navy’s suspension that was issued in April 2009,” McGlynn said in a brief statement Thursday. “The appeal is now in the administrative process, and we hope to have a resolution of the appeal as soon as possible.”

McGlynn declined to release any information that Kuchera included in the appeal. He also declined to comment on the allegations.

Kuchera Defense was raided by federal agents in January as part of an ongoing probe by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in western Pennsylvania.

Officials have not disclosed the reasons behind the raid.

The Navy contract ban remains in effect pending completion of that investigation, according to the Excluded Parties List System, a government list of firms that are barred from receiving federal contracts.

According to published reports, the suspension for “alleged fraud” included multiple instances of incorrect charges along with allegations of defective pricing and ethical violations.