Parts made in China, not U.S., lawsuit says

Companies in Florida and Iowa used a Neville Township address as part of a scheme to sell the U.S. Department of Defense Chinese-manufactured automotive supplies as American-made goods, according to a federal lawsuit unsealed on Tuesday.

Donald Smith of Burgettstown states in the lawsuit that he was a contractor for Progressive Holdings LLC, a company set up by Scott Eppinga of Rock Valley, Iowa, to obtain Defense contracts. Another of Eppinga's businesses, Power Products Supply Corp. of Rock Valley, and D&D International Corp. of Miami conspired to import rivets and other Chinese goods, using Progressive Holdings and fake invoices to make them look like domestic products, the lawsuit claims.

Eppinga and Smith's lawyers declined comment. David Ransome, president of D&D International, said he has not seen the lawsuit and could not comment on it.

Smith is suing under a law that allows whistle-blowers to receive part of any award the government gets when it uncovers fraud by vendors. Smith filed the case in April against Progressive Holdings, Power Products Supply, D&D International and four other companies.

U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon ordered the case unsealed after the Justice Department said it is not intervening at this time.