National Air Cargo faces new scrutiny

   A federal judge made it official Wednesday when he accepted National Air Cargo's guilty plea to a single felony and accepted $28 million in fines, restitution and payment to a whistleblower who first went to the government.

   Federal prosecutors did not charge Christopher J. Alf, the high-flying founder and sole owner of the Orchard Park freight forwarder, or any of his executives. But the government accused the company of changing delivery dates and delivering by truck when air travel was required.

   Now, however, National Air Cargo comes under scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Defense. The sentencing sets in motion a Defense investigation into whether National Air Cargo can continue shipping war materiel to Iraq and Afghanistan and do other work for the government.

   Has National Air Cargo learned its lesson? Or should it be debarred from doing any work for the government?

   --  Michael Beebe and Dan Herbeck

Comments

[reality check]

Once again, the crack duo of Beebe & Herbeck have collaborated to provide the residents of WNY with the real facts regarding National Air Cargo. Never mind the basic factual inaccuracies that show zero research or even a basic understanding of what the companies does, owns and the contribution to the service men and women of the armed forces. But Beebe & Herbeck made sure that they once again point out the type of cars the Alf's drive. This story is the Buffalo News version of Groundhog Day. Same old inaccurate, sensationalized "facts" written by the same old gossip magazine hacks. The unintelligence and ignorance exhibited continually by the News and these two writers is more of an embarassment to Western New York than any thing National Air Cargo has done.

[disgusted again]

As a parent of a couple children serving our county I can say THEY did NOT benefit to the point that Mr. Alf and his family did from HIS contribution to the servicemen and women. Unless he goes over and actually works there or has one of his own do the same then you can talk to me about my basic understanding of his money he held back. My children could have benefited better had there families been taken care of better while serving with his held back money. People's bad actions do impact others.

[mc5cents]

Great job reporting this story over and over. With a little luck you will drive more jobs out of WNY. You neglected to report that the whistle-blower started his own cargo company which competes for business with National Air Cargo. Keep up the good work boys! See your editorial today about the loss of population around here. Soon there will be no one willing to bring a company here.

[ekuciel]

Most trucking companies or air cargo companies that offer any type of expedited services sell the cost as flying to the destination but actually move the freight on the ground. It is a common practice.And unless the shipper files some sort of claim against the carrier it is an accepted practice.

[terry granger]

As an American and a taxpayer, I am outraged. As an attorney, who has practiced criminal law in the Federal Courts for almost 20 years, I am sickened.

Christopher Alf and National Air Cargo have purchased not only freedom but the continued flow of money through lucrative defense contracts.

The FBI conducted a four year investigation into allegations that a local defense contractor over billed (war profiteering) the United States for military shipments. To think that our local US attorney would resolve the matter with a plea by the company only, is ludicrous

The four year investigation revealed a single act by a “low-level employee”, which cost the government $400.00; yet the company agreed to pay a fine of $20,000,000 and give $7,000,000 to the “employee”? GIVE ME A BREAK! And the company still has contracts with the government.

I am intimately familiar with the plea process in this district, through my representation of hundreds of criminal defendants, many of whom were charged with non-violent felonies, and most of whom were sent to prison under mandatory guidelines.

There simply is no way that Christopher Alf and National Air Cargo could have received the deal it got without orders from Washington.

But that’s probably the real story here.National Air Cargo joins a list of favored defense contractors (Haliburton and KBR are two of the more well known) who have ripped off taxpayers for years and not only are not held criminally liable but also are allowed to continue to do business with the government.

What else can one expect from an administration which stole two "elections" and established the largest criminal enterprise in the history of mankind.

January 21, 2009 cannot come soon enough!

[mc5cents]

"What else can one expect from an administration which stole two "elections" and established the largest criminal enterprise in the history of mankind.

January 21, 2009 cannot come soon enough!" -- Terry Granger

You are an attorney? You almost had me fooled until those last two statements. NOT!

NAC has been doing great work for the military for many years, having received commendations from those involved. They continue to do good work.

The present administration had nothing to do with the proceedings that took place in court. Facts my friend did. But never let the facts get in the way of a good story, right?

Take a close look at the so-called whistle-blower and you will get a much better idea of why this whole thing came to light in the first place.

[Boots]

Chris Alf, just another millionaire Welfare Queen feeding off the teet of the US taxpayer

[No Name]

Someone should know if Beebe & Herbeck's boss William Flynn is related to the US Attorney Terrence Flynn? It would be really interesting to know that the US Government has influence at the News to get this garbage reporting into the press. Also, is it normal for the News to require payment to print the other side of the story? Just curious!

[Mike Hogan]

Funny how the majority of the the folks in this country blindly follow what the media prints. There are two sides to every story and most logical and rational people would look at both.

I, for one, have seen first-hand the services that commercial carriers, especially National Air Cargo, has provided and continue to provide to the Warfighter at the "tip of the spear". I've seen the letters of commendation from SEVERAL Flag level officers (U.S. Army and Marine Corps) that highly praise National Air Cargo's work in the combat zone. Chris Alf and his Team have literally, "...saved the lives of Soldiers and Marines...".

Not many Americans know the true logistical challenges of prosecuting a war, let alone a campaign on two hostile fronts. It's damn tough! The Department of Defense is doing what it needs to do and once one looks at the facts of the case, things will more than likely been seen in a different light.

Bottomline...the media should tell the WHOLE truth. Funny how things get distorted by those want to see what they want to see and are quick to pull the trigger.

[disgusted again]

The end does not necessarily justify the means for some. Living one side of the story is what gives people the right to see that side alone. Bad behavior is just that. Unfortunately people can and do judge others when they do wrong and any good they've done does become secondary. Bottom line...if you don't want to be judged then don't do wrong.

[Jimmy Olsen]

Someone might want to ask Mr. Flynn (Flynn the attorney not the boss at the News) this question: Why will Mark Oehm receive payment when the attorney for National Air Cargo stated in a press interview that Mark had stolen NAC's computer system when he left the company. He was not charged but the person he worked with to steal it was convicted of a felony. When the system was returned to NAC with shipment data from Evergreen Airlines it clearly showed what Oehm had routed air freight by truck but charging Air Rates. This information was passed on the US Attorney. If trucking air freight is such a huge crime and a waste of taxpayers dollars why was Mark Oehm rewarded 3.3 million dollars for routing freight the same way. Stay tuned more to come from Jimmy Olsen - Cub Reporter

[Ross T. Runfola]

The lifestyle of Christopher and Lori Alf, described in the special report in the Buffalo News regarding the plea- deal of National Air Cargo, is a microcosm of what American society most values. Since the Gilded Age at the turn of the century, our culture most often celebrates frock coated businessmen who practice conspicuous consumption embracing a profligate lifestyle while ignoring producers like social workers and teachers.
Women and Children’s Hospital and Make- A Wish –Foundation of WNY extol the charitable giving of the Alfs in the article as if it was altruistic. There is ample historical precedent whereby newly wealthy business scions like Andrew Carnegie, lacking credibility with the social elite, and like Christopher Alf, never graduating from college, attempt to gain entrée into exclusive social circles, including discriminatory clubs, by philanthropic membership on charitable boards. The Alfs contributions to numerous and sundry charities and high ranking politicians is as much a marker for them of achievement as their public display of wealth in the form of opulent automobiles like a Ferrari , mansions in Hamburg and Boca Raton, Fla and Lori Alfs 500 pairs of shoes and $128,000 diamond ring.
This grandiose lifestyle also bought Christopher Alf a sweetheart criminal plea unknown to average Americans.

[Producer]

Ross: You pompas hypocrite. You also brag about all of your wealth: cars, homes, money and women. You lawyers are the most unscrupulous scums on earth.

You need help with correct grammer and sentence structure. Prose is not poetry.

Your comment is academic hogwash. Acceptance won through bribery has been done since the caveman.

Why didn't you become a social worker?

[Al]

When you read about the failings of governments around the world, high on the list is corruption. Corruption is an acid that eats at the rule of law. A society which cannot control corruption is signing its own economic death warrant. The Alf case is not known completely, but the tip of the iceberg shows it is a very big iceberg. A free press is one of the means of getting control of such lawbreakers. The essential problem is one of money and status. Sordid people will do nearly anything to get it, even to destroying the society they live in. The barnacles that live off corruption or are afraid will defend it. But justice must be sought. The Alfs are moral midgets.

[disgusted again]

As long as the "Producer"s of the world are in charge of the correct use of grammar the word pompous will not be spelled correctly. Needless to say once again...just because everyone is doing it doesn't make it right.

[Ed B]

If National Air Cargo was a crack dealer they would go to jail for 20 years. War profiteering in Bushland is a slap on the wrist offense. Go figure.

[Producer]

disgusted again: We Producers are much too busy holding up the world that POMPOUS academics, lawyers and hypocrites try to create.

Try commenting on the substance of the comment instead of nit picking on a one word oops.

What are your credentials?