Columbus, Ohio – A Florida business owner has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to a long-running scheme that put military operations at risk while generating significant illegal profit. The case centers on Andrew C. Nolan, 46, of Riviera Beach, Florida, who once lived in Westerville and operated a company that supplied parts to the United States military.
Nolan was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to serious financial crimes tied to his business dealings. Authorities say his actions led to more than $800,000 in losses to the government, stemming from dozens of contracts that were supposed to meet strict military standards.
Fraud scheme involved altered and nonconforming parts
According to court documents, Nolan was the sole owner and operator of Nolan Manufacturing, LLC, a contractor that supplied military parts between 2012 and 2020. Over that period, he was involved in nearly 150 Department of War contracts. Instead of providing parts that met the required standards, investigators found that Nolan knowingly cut corners.
Rather than sourcing approved components, Nolan purchased cheaper parts from unapproved manufacturers. To make those parts appear legitimate, he had them sent to a third party where approved part numbers were laser-etched onto them. These altered parts were then delivered to fulfill military contracts, despite not meeting the required specifications.
Officials said this practice created serious concerns because the parts were intended for use in critical applications, including aircraft and other military systems. By supplying items that did not meet standards, Nolan placed safety and reliability at risk.
“Nolan knowingly provided cheaper, nonconforming parts to the U.S. military for use as critical application items on aircraft and other weapons systems,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Dominick S. Gerace II said. “His actions dangerously disregarded the safety of our troops in pursuit of higher profits and he now will rightfully spend time in federal prison.”
The total financial loss tied to the scheme was calculated at $829,512 across 148 contracts, highlighting the scale of the fraud.
Investigation and sentencing
The case moved forward after a federal grand jury indicted Nolan in September 2022. He later pleaded guilty in October 2025 to charges of wire fraud and money laundering. His sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson.
Investigators from the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General played a key role in uncovering the scheme. Officials stressed the importance of holding contractors accountable when they fail to meet strict military requirements.
“Outcomes of this nature protect the DoD from financial loss and operational risk, directly strengthening national defense capabilities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Sargenski of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Southeast Field Office. “This result demonstrates the value of vigilant oversight and reinforces DCIS’s steadfast commitment to aggressively countering fraud, corruption, and misconduct that threaten military readiness.”
Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Twombly and Tyler Aagard prosecuted the case, bringing it to a conclusion that officials say sends a clear message about the consequences of fraud involving national defense contracts.
