ST. LOUIS (AP) — The suburban St. Louis president of a defense contractor faces up to 20 years in federal prison now that he has admitted defrauding the U.S. government.

Forty-five-year-old James Matthew Alexander pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony count of mail fraud.

The charge also carries a possible $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10.

Authorities say that in 2010, St. Louis-based Matthews Manufacturing Inc. was awarded a contract to supply 56 containers used to ship parts for the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Alexander was president of Matthews Manufacturing.

The containers included shock mounts that were supposed to be no more than a year old. But prosecutors say Alexander had the dates on the mounts buffed off and re-stamped with a more recent date.