Executives Convicted: Selling Falsely Labled Body Armor to U.S. Gov't

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Press Release - A federal jury convicted two Florida men yesterday on charges of conspiracy, making false claims on the United States government, and wire fraud.

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U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, February 8, 2019
Executives Convicted of Selling Falsely Labeled Body Armor to U.S. Government

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted two Florida men yesterday on charges of conspiracy, making false claims on the United States government, and wire fraud.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Dan Thomas Lounsbury, Jr., 50, of South Palm Beach, and Andres Lopez-Munoz, 35, are both executives of Tactical Products Group, LLC (TPG), a Florida-based manufacturer and re-seller of various products to military, law enforcement, and private security clients. Lounsbury, Jr., is the founder, owner, and CEO of TPG, while Lopez-Munoz is TPG’s Vice President for Sales and Federal Contracting. In 2012, TPG was selected as a sub-contractor on a contract to provide certain goods, including 10 sets of hard body armor plates, to the United States government.

The Government had requested a specific type of plate, and Lounsbury and Lopez-Munoz both knew that no substitutions were allowed. Furthermore, Lounsbury and Lopez-Munoz both knew that these plates were intended to protect government personnel in the field. Nevertheless, Lounsbury and Lopez-Munoz worked together to procure cheaper substitute plates, none of which were military-tested, and some of which were far outside of their warranty period. To get the United States government to accept and pay for these plates, Lounsbury and Lopez-Munoz had fake labels created and placed on the armor, falsely representing the plates to be the specific type that the government had ordered.

Lounsbury and Lopez-Munoz face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on May 10. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Matthew J. DeSarno, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace L. Hill and Raj Parekh are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-301.

Topic(s):
Financial Fraud
Component(s):
USAO - Virginia, Eastern
Contact:
Joshua Stueve
Director of Communications
joshua.stueve@usdoj.gov