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The president of Spartan Chassis resigned last week, a few days after the Michigan company pleaded guilty to lying about its knowledge of a kickback scheme involving its contracts with Force Protection. Richard Schalter resigned effective Dec. 29, and a spokesman would not discuss the reasons for his departure. Force Protection was not accused of wrongdoing.
 Richard Schalter | By Molly Parker The president of Spartan Chassis resigned last week, a few days after the Michigan company pleaded guilty to lying about its knowledge of a kickback scheme involving its contracts with Force Protection. The Ladson war vehicle manufacturer was not accused of wrongdoing. Parent company Spartan Motors Inc. said in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission document that Richard Schalter resigned effective Dec. 29. Jeff Lambert, spokesman for the Michigan-based company, said he could not discuss the reasons for the resignation. “He resigned, and we don’t give context for any resignation,” he said. “The plea agreement we settled with the Justice Department was settled with the company and not any one individual.” In late December, Spartan Chassis pleaded guilty to lying on a government form about its knowledge of an unlawful agreement through which a Force Protection employee received about $100,000 for steering business the company’s way. The company was fined $4.3 million for signing a contract with Force Protection that included standard language certifying that the company “had not paid and will not pay consideration of any kind to an employee in connection with the purchase order.” Force Protection employee Michael Timothy Carter pleaded guilty to his role in January 2008. Carter was receiving about $1,500 for every chassis — essentially the truck frame — that Force Protection ordered from Spartan. Carter resigned from the company in May 2005, shortly after Force Protection executives became aware of his deal with Spartan, federal prosecutors said. Reach Molly Parker at 843-849-3144. |
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