2 plead guilty to bilking Pentagon

A former Northrop Grumman employee and his wife pleaded guilty Monday to scamming the defense contractor and the Pentagon out of $2.5 million.

Michael Crabtree, 47, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering. His wife, Susan Crabtree, 44, pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Susan Crabtree faces up to 20 years in prison, and her husband faces 15 years when they are sentenced July 14. They also face fines of up to $750,000.

Messages left with their attorneys were not immediately returned.

Michael Crabtree worked for a Northrop Grumman plant in El Segundo, where he ordered material and supplies for the government’s F-18 Hornet and the F-35 fighter programs. Before leaving his job early in 2007, he ordered $2.5 million worth of goods for Northrop Grumman that were never received, prosecutors said.

According to court papers, a Santa Ana-based company, Advanced West, billed Northrop Grumman without supplying the materials and forwarded payments to a shell company set up by Susan Crabtree.

The couple spent the money on a new home, jewelry, a race car and other luxury items, prosecutors said.