Ex-contractor cleared of fraud, false claims charges

DANVILLE, Va. — A former military contractor and its owner have been cleared of charges that the company misrepresented the level of protection provided by armored vehicles in Iraq.

A federal court jury in Danville found Armet Armored Vehicles Inc. and William Whyte not guilty Thursday of fraud and false claims. The Danville Register & Bee reports the verdict came after about six hours of deliberation in the trial that started this week.

According to a 2012 grand jury indictment, Armet signed contracts to provide 32 armored gun trucks to the Department of Defense. The contracts said the vehicles would provide security to Iraqi VIPs who regularly traveled by motorcade through "a hostile and dangerous environment."

According to the indictment, seven armored gun trucks failed to meet required ballistic and blast protection standards.

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