A sources familiar with the matter revealed that the US Justice Department is reportedly set to propose that Boeing plead guilty to fraud in relation to the two tragic plane crashes involving its 737 Max jetliners.
US Urges Boeing to Plead Guilty to Fraud
Boeing has been given a deadline of the end of the upcoming week to either accept or decline the offer.
The offer entails the aerospace company agreeing to an independent monitor who would ensure their compliance with anti-fraud laws.
Relatives of some of the 346 people who tragically lost their lives in the 2018 and 2019 crashes were informed about the plea offer by the Justice Department.
This information was shared during a video meeting, as reported by Mark Lindquist, one of the lawyers representing the grieving families, and another individual who was present during the call with prosecutors.
During the meeting, family members voiced their frustration over prosecutors' decision to give Boeing the opportunity to plead guilty to a charge from three years ago, rather than pursuing further charges and a trial.
One individual expressed their belief that the prosecutors were intentionally manipulating the families, while another passionately voiced their frustrations towards them during their allotted time to speak.
During a call earlier on Sunday (June 30), US Justice Department officials informed the family members of the victims about their decision.
Boeing Safety and Compliance Practices
According to sources, Boeing would be required to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the US Federal Aviation Administration in connection with the fatal crashes as part of the plea deal.
An independent monitor will be appointed to conduct audits of Boeing's safety and compliance practices for a period of three years, Reuters reported.
The officials are expected to present the offer as nonnegotiable. Prosecutors have stated that if Boeing refuses to plead guilty, they intend to take the company to trial.
A meeting took place several weeks after prosecutors informed a federal judge about a breach by the American aerospace giant. This breach occurred in January 2021 and had previously protected Boeing from criminal prosecution related to the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Some legal experts believe that if Boeing were to be convicted, it could put their status as a federal contractor at risk. The company has significant contracts with the Pentagon and NASA.
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