OXFORD, MS – A former Robins Air Force Base engineer is facing serious federal charges for allegedly concealing evidence and lying to investigators probing the 2017 crash of a Marine Corps KC-130 transport aircraft, dubbed “Yanky 72,” that claimed the lives of sixteen service members. The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi, accuses JAMES MICHAEL FISHER, 67, of a deliberate attempt to bury the truth about the disaster.
The Yanky 72 went down near Itta Bena, Mississippi, on July 10, 2017, leaving fifteen Marines and one Navy Corpsman dead. For years, the cause of the crash remained under investigation. Now, authorities allege that FISHER, formerly of Warner Robins, Georgia, and currently residing in Portugal, actively worked to impede that investigation, fearing scrutiny of his own past decisions.
According to the indictment, FISHER, a former propulsion engineer within the C-130 program office at Robins, engaged in a calculated effort to shield himself from accountability. He is accused of deliberately withholding crucial engineering documents from federal investigators and providing demonstrably false statements about his past work related to the crash. The indictment details a pattern of concealment designed to deflect attention from potential flaws in his earlier engineering assessments.
The charges are significant: two counts of making false statements and two counts of obstruction of justice. If convicted on all counts, FISHER could face a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars. However, any final sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner of the Northern District of Mississippi announced the indictment, emphasizing the commitment to uncovering the truth behind the tragic crash. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Leary and Philip Levy are leading the prosecution.
It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is not a finding of guilt. JAMES MICHAEL FISHER, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. But the allegations paint a disturbing picture of a man allegedly willing to obstruct justice to protect his own interests in the wake of a devastating loss of life. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
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Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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