Scandals: Tough Talk, Light Terms

U.S. District Judge Richard Williams of Alexandria, Va., had harsh words last week about the abuses uncovered by Operation Ill Wind, the federal investigation of Pentagon procurement fraud: "I can't believe our Government, the Congress and Executive, lets a system like this endure." In fact, the judge was so disgusted that he handed out astonishingly light sentences to the first two defendants convicted by a jury as a result of the probe (twelve other people have pleaded guilty). Teledyne Electronics executive George Kaub could have received 40 years in prison. His co-worker Eugene Sullivan could have got 20 years. Instead they will serve six and three months, respectively, in a halfway house. Prosecutor Henry Hudson declined to comment.