Northrop worker, wife plead guilty

A former California employee of Northrop Grumman and his wife pleaded guilty to stealing $2.5 million from the Defense Department and the company by faking orders and pocketing the payments.

Michael Crabtree, 48, of Buckeye, Ariz., pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering, and his wife Susan, 45, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, U.S. Atty. Thomas O’Brien in Los Angeles said in a statement. Michael Crabtree faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and his wife faces up to 20 years, the statement said.

Crabtree worked at the Northrop plant in El Segundo from 2004 to 2007, prosecutors said. He ordered about $2.5 million worth of material for defense programs using a shell company set up by his wife. No materials were delivered and the Crabtrees kept the money, prosecutors said.