ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A Navy intelligence officer illegally diverted nearly $2 million in government funds to his boss’s brother under a secret, illegitimate contract to build hundreds of untraceable rifle silencers, prosecutors said Monday in laying out their case against the officer.

In opening trial statements in Alexandria, prosecutors said the defendant, Navy civilian Lee Hall of Sterling, had no authority to buy weapons and that the real reason for the contract was to bail out his boss’s brother, Mark Landersman, who prosecutors said had a failing race-car business.