A Maryville man is facing serious federal charges after being implicated in a multi-state conspiracy to defraud the U.S. military by supplying unapproved aftermarket vehicle and generator parts.

Alex Bath, 50, of Maryville, Tennessee, appeared in federal court on June 30, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to a 19-count indictment. Bath, along with three co-conspirators from North Carolina and Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 17, 2026, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to federal prosecutors, Bath and his co-defendants conspired to secure lucrative contracts with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to provide original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts—including fuel injectors, turbochargers, and generators—to the U.S. military.

Instead of delivering the authentic parts, the indictment alleges the group substituted unapproved aftermarket parts. To pull off the deception, the defendants reportedly:

• Created counterfeit labels

• Forged and altered official documents

• Disguised the true source of the parts to make them look like genuine OEM products

While two of the co-defendants, David Turner and Roger Wolfgram, face additional charges for an alleged kickback and money laundering scheme, Bath was a central figure named in the overarching wire fraud conspiracy.

Following his not-guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin, Bath was released pending trial. His trial is officially scheduled for September 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan in Knoxville.

If convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the Maryville resident faces:

• Up to 20 years in federal prison

• A fine of up to $250,000

• Up to three years of supervised release

The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Dykes prosecuting the case.

Note: Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.