Frank A. Jalion Amaro, Bribing FAA Examiner, Georgia 2021

State: Georgia
Category: Public Corruption
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/aviation-maintenance-student-pleads-guilty-bribing-examiner-pass-faa-mechanic-s" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Aviation Maintenance Student Bribes FAA Examiner for Certification

Frank A. Jalion Amaro, a 21-year-old student at an aviation maintenance school in Las Vegas, Nevada, has pleaded guilty to bribing a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Designated Mechanic Examiner in exchange for receiving a passing score on the FAA’s Airframe and Powerplant examination.

According to U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak, Amaro attempted to buy his certification, which could have put the safety of citizens who fly in jeopardy.

The investigation, led by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), demonstrates the importance of ensuring the safety of the nation’s air transportation system.

Amaro, who was preparing to take the examination to obtain an FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate, contacted an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner in the Atlanta-metropolitan area in late 2019. He offered to pay the examiner $500 upfront and $2,000 on the day of the test in exchange for a passing score.

The FAA Examiner immediately reported Amaro’s bribe solicitation and agreed to work with federal law enforcement authorities. Over the next several weeks, Amaro and the FAA Examiner agreed that Amaro would take the examination in Duluth, Georgia on December 16, 2019.

On December 9, 2019, Amaro sent the FAA Examiner $500 via a mobile payment service. On December 16, 2019, Amaro met the FAA Examiner in Duluth, Georgia, and paid the examiner $2,000 in cash for a passing score on the Airframe and Powerplant examination.

Amaro pleaded guilty to bribery and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey W. Davis.

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