Connecticut conglomerate hit with $1M penalty by DOJ

An OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopter in flight in March 2017 in Gulfport, Miss. On Dec. 19, 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice penalized Farmington, Conn.-based United Technologies more than $1 million, after a probe into whether UTC’s Goodrich Pump and Engine Systems purchased counterfeit microprocessors between 2005 and 2012 installed in U.S. Army Kiowa engines produced by Rolls-Royce. less An OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopter in flight in March 2017 in Gulfport, Miss. On Dec. 19, 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice penalized Farmington, Conn.-based United Technologies more than $1 million, after a ... more Photo: (U.S. Army Photo By Sgt. Jim Greenhill) Photo: (U.S. Army Photo By Sgt. Jim Greenhill) Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Connecticut conglomerate hit with $1M penalty by DOJ 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

United Technologies will pay more than $1 million after a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into whether the company’s former Goodrich pump and engine controls division violated the federal False Claims Act.

Farmington-based United Technologies is among Connecticut’s largest corporate employers, reporting $1.3 billion in net earnings in the second quarter. UTC acquired Goodrich in July 2012, and subsequently sold the unit in question to Triumph in 2013.

According to federal prosecutors, Goodrich Pump and Engine Systems purchased counterfeit microprocessors between 2005 and 2012 that were installed in engines produced by Rolls-Royce for U.S. Army scout helicopters, while furnishing false certifications on the systems to the U.S. government.

None of the microprocessors in question were used in helicopters manufactured by Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft, which UTC sold in November 2015 to Lockheed Martin.

Updated from an earlier version to clarify UTC’s divestment of Goodrich Pump and Engine Systems.

Jim Shay contributed to this report.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman