Carlos Villa-Lozano, Aiming Laser Beam at Aircraft, California 2018

Two Fresno residents have been indicted for aiming a laser beam at a California Highway Patrol aircraft, putting the lives of the pilots and others at risk. Carlos Villa-Lozano, 30, and Paulina Silva Aguilar, 32, are charged with one count of aiming the beam of a laser pointer at a California Highway Patrol aircraft, and Villa-Lozano is also charged with making false statements to an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to the indictment, on July 22, 2018, Villa-Lozano and Silva used a dangerously bright green laser pointer to strike a CHP fixed-wing aircraft approximately 12 times. The indictment further alleges that Villa-Lozano materially misrepresented to the FBI agent that the laser device was used for one to two seconds “at most” and hit the aircraft only one time.

The case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.

Villa-Lozano and Silva are scheduled for an arraignment on the indictment on December 21, 2018, in federal court in Fresno. If convicted, Villa-Lozano and Silva face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of the false statement offense, Villa-Lozano faces an additional five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The safety of pilots and others is of utmost importance, and any actions that put them at risk will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The investigation and prosecution of this case are a prime example of the commitment of law enforcement agencies to keeping our communities safe from harm. The Fresno residents are a reminder that anyone who puts the lives of others at risk will be held accountable for their actions.

The case is a warning to those who think they can engage in reckless behavior and get away with it. The authorities will not hesitate to bring charges and seek the maximum penalties for anyone who puts the lives of others at risk.

The indictment serves as a reminder that the consequences of aiming a laser beam at an aircraft can be severe. The defendants face significant penalties if convicted, and their actions could have had disastrous consequences.

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