Posted: Sat, Mar 7, 2009, 10:35 AM ET (1535 GMT)
A former key NASA official was indicted Friday on charges he used his influence to steer millions in agency funding to a client. A federal ground jury indicted Courtney Stadd, NASA chief of staff and White House liaison in 2001 to 2003, on three counts of using his government position to serve his financial interest and making false statements to NASA investigators; if convicted on all counts he could face up to 15 years in prison. The charges stem from a brief stint Stadd had as a "special government employee" in NASA in 2005, shortly after Mike Griffin became NASA administrator. The indictment alleges that he steered $9 million in earth sciences funding to a Mississippi that was a client of Stadd when he was in private practice. Stadd's attorney denied any wrongdoing.

Related Links:

•  Washington Post article
•  AP article
•  CNN article
•  Aviation Week article