NEWARK, N.J. - A New Jersey-based defense contracting company and its president pleaded guilty Monday to contracting fraud following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Eric Helf, 38, president of Staff Manufacturing Corporation (Staff Gasket), admitted April 18 to military contract procurement fraud for selling replacement parts for use in military operations, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Staff Gasket also pleaded guilty to violating the Arms Export Control Act. Staff Gasket, located in Alpine, N.J., pleaded guilty to two charges of wire fraud and an export control violation. Helf, of New York, N.Y., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the scheme. Both Helf and the company entered guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from August ...