Andrew Nolan, a former Westerville resident, is headed to federal prison for two years after prosecutors said his manufacturing business supplied the U.S. military with faulty and nonconforming parts, sticking taxpayers with roughly $829,512 in losses. Federal authorities said Nolan’s firm shipped items the Defense Department expected to be mission capable that did not meet contract specifications, in a scheme that stretched over several years. The case began with a federal indictment in September 2022 and wrapped up after Nolan entered guilty pleas in 2025.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, Nolan, 46, formerly of Westerville and now listing Riviera Beach, Florida, as his residence, pleaded guilty in 2025 to wire fraud and money laundering and was ordered to serve two years in federal prison. Prosecutors said Nolan Manufacturing supplied parts to the Department of Defense from 2012 through 2020, bought components from unapproved manufacturers, and then had the correct part numbers laser etched onto those items before sending them on as if they complied with the contracts. Court filings reviewed by the Dispatch said the scheme touched 148 contracts and produced total losses of about $829,512.
How Prosecutors Say The Scheme Worked
Investigators said Nolan swapped in cheaper, nonconforming components for the items the government had specifically ordered, then altered markings to hide where the parts really came from. Those components were shipped out with falsified paperwork and packaging. Testing and contract records reviewed by investigators showed the parts did not meet required specifications and were not acceptable for their intended military uses.
Similar criminal cases have been brought in the Southern District of Ohio. In a 2023 case, a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office described supplying fraudulent parts to the military as conduct that “will not be tolerated.” The Nolan case now joins that list of cautionary tales for defense suppliers tempted to cut corners.
Supply Chain Risk And Oversight
Federal auditors have long warned that counterfeit and nonconforming parts are a weak link for the Defense Department and can delay missions or put safety at risk. The Government Accountability Office found hundreds of suspect counterfeit reports and urged better reporting and oversight so bad components are caught before they move through the supply chain. Those findings helped drive policy changes and tighter scrutiny of defense suppliers in recent years, with Nolan’s prosecution landing squarely in that climate of heightened attention. Government Accountability Office…