EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A southern Oregon family is challenging government seizures of their property based on allegations their company filled U.S. military defense contracts with defective knockoffs rather than government-specified parts for Army helicopters and trucks.
The Register-Guard reports that Harold Ray Bettencourt Jr., his ex-wife and the couple’s four adult children have challenged federal forfeiture actions targeting nearly $350,000 seized from 20 family bank accounts and more than a dozen boats and vehicles.
No criminal charges have been filed against the Bettencourts nearly eight months after a federal agent filed a sworn statement in U.S. District Court alleging their company, Kustom Products Inc. in Coos Bay, defrauded the military by underbidding competitors, then substituting inferior products.
None of the Bettencourts responded to requests for comment sent to their attorneys.
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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com
