FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A Fort Lauderdale man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on fraud charges, accused of supplying the military spare parts that didn't meet standards.

Nestor Daniel Lopez faces 26 counts of making false claims to the Department of Defense. According to the indictment, Lopez managed Damon Industries in Pompano Beach. The company manufactures commercial and military spare metal parts.

The investigation of Damon Industries began after six machine guns with parts from the contractor blew up during a military exercise in 1999.

Investigators found that parts supplied to Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard were not properly heat-treated, which could cause the parts to fail or malfunction.

Some of the weapons systems for which Lopez failed to supply properly heat treated spare parts were: C-135 aircraft, Cobra Helicopters, M2 .50 caliber machine guns, M 109 Howitzers, F-18 Hornet Aircraft and .50 caliber M85 rifles.

Florida U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis said, "This Indictment sends a strong message that when prescribed contract specifications are disregarded, we will vigorously prosecute the violating contractor who seeks to profit at the expense of our country's military readiness."