Former Lockheed Employee Sent to Prison

Kenneth D. Phelps, 38, a former deputy manager and treasurer of Lockheed's political action committee, pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. He admitted stealing money that Lockheed had intended to donate to political campaigns.

Instead of making campaign donations, Phelps forged the signatures of two Lockheed executives and deposited the checks into his personal bank account from 2002 to 2005. He wrote the checks for $500 and $1,000 -- amounts commonly associated with political contributions made by Lockheed -- to avoid being caught.

Phelps, of Woodbridge, Va., then falsified the records the company submitted to the election commission.

His attorney has said Phelps was going through a difficult time in his life -- a divorce and financial problems. A divorced father of three, he served as an air traffic controller in both Persian Gulf wars.

Lockheed Martin has said it fully cooperated with the investigation and was pleased with the July guilty plea. The Bethesda, Md.-based company was fully reimbursed the $160,000 taken from the company's political action committee through its theft insurance, a Lockheed spokesman said in July. The spokesman said Phelps also returned some money to the company.