ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 4, 1996 TAG: 9612040045
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEWARK, N.J.
SOURCE: Associated Press
The company that holds the government contract to make the nation's highest combat decoration was fined $80,000 Tuesday for selling 300 bootleg Medals of Honor.
H.L.I. Lordship Industries Inc. also will give the government $22,500 it received for illegally selling the bogus medals for $75 apiece at memorabilia shows from 1991 to 1994.
``True Medal of Honor recipients and their families have a right to be outraged by [Lordship's] conduct,'' U.S. District Judge William Bassler said in imposing the maximum fine allowed under federal guidelines.
The family-owned company also could lose its status as a government contractor. Its only business is making medals and insignia.
The Hauppauge, N.Y., company pleaded guilty before sentencing to a single misdemeanor count of making unauthorized medals. Company lawyer Frederick Hafetz said two brothers who operated the company were responsible for the fake medals.
LENGTH: Short : 30 linesby CNB