Failed Attempt to Scam NASA Results in Prison Sentence and Fine
Florida Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding NASA’s Space Launch System
Steven Lukens, CEO of Gulf Atlantic International Supply, LLC, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a fine of $800,000 for defrauding NASA’s Space Launch System. The fraudulent scheme involved submitting false documents to obtain materials for NASA’s Space Launch System at Kennedy Space Center.
Lukens pleaded guilty to charges of fraud after it was discovered that he falsified quality control documentation and delivered products to NASA that did not meet the contract’s stringent standards. This posed serious risks to the Artemis mission and the Orion spacecraft designed to take astronauts to the Moon and eventually Mars.
As part of his sentencing, Lukens was ordered to pay back $271,000 in ill-gotten gains and $689,280 in restitution. NASA officials emphasized the importance of upholding high standards in all aspects of space exploration to ensure the safety of astronauts and the success of future missions.
