Metallurgist admits faking steel-test results for Navy subs | Hacker News Reader

Metallurgist admits faking steel-test results for Navy subs

miamiherald.com

63 pointswyclif8 comments

Wow this is an incredible read. She faked test results because she thought the acceptance criteria was “stupid” and unilaterally decided that? I wonder if there are others involved in this fraud as well - it seems hard to believe that she didn’t do this for enrichment.

> Thomas faces up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine when she is sentenced in February. However, the Justice Department said it would recommend a prison term at the low end of whatever the court determines is the standard sentencing range in her case.

Why? This is the right time to apply the law to the fullest extent and create a deterrent to a serious crime.

Slapping the book on her might send a signal she did it because steel was really bad and most of US subs have fatal flaws. Its a PR game.

They found the scapegoat. This is very important. Of course, who needs quality control ? Are all the parts tested by one person without any review ? Is the test process not reviewed ? I feel sorry for the poor sailors which will board those submarines.

I'd guess it's due to the fact the culprit is a 67 year old woman, and her fraud resulted in increased maintenance costs and not the loss of any subs or sailors. For better or worse the end result has always played a huge role in how these types of situations play out.

On top of that, it seems incredible to me that something so important could/would have such a single point of failure and that there was no redundancy or other safeguards.

I can see why somebody might decide keeping the number lower is better for everybody directly involved.

>increased maintenance costs and not the loss of any subs or sailors

Yeah true, but in the meantime she knowingly accepted the death of 100's of sailors no? (max deep dive tests etc)

(I am a lawyer) the earlier you plead guilty the lighter the sentence, to encourage pleading out. If you throw the book at her, what's the point of pleading guilty?

One could argue it is potential negligent homicide? I don't know, not being a Lawyer or anything like it.

Faking results of steal made for Submarines is probably the most disgusting thing one can do in this field.

Build a minisub and shove everyone responsible in it then dive as deep as the fake results attest it could...

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