LOS ANGELES — Arnold Gerald Leto III, a 36-year-old Irvine resident, entered a guilty plea in federal court today for the reckless act of flying private jets with passengers onboard without a proper FAA license. The daring breaches occurred on two separate occasions, with Leto piloting a Cessna Citation aircraft from Santa Monica to Phoenix in January 2015 and a Falcon 10 turbo-jet from Van Nuys Airport to Las Vegas in April 2016.
United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating that federal laws are in place to protect the public from such recklessness. ‘Today’s guilty pleas demonstrate that the defendant willfully disregarded the rules and regulations of the FAA, operating jet aircraft and thereby endangering passengers and the safety of communities across various states,’ she said.
William Swallow, DOT OIG regional Special Agent-in-Charge, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the commitment to ensuring public safety. ‘As evidenced by today’s guilty plea, we remain steadfast in our commitment to air transportation system safety, working with the FAA and prosecutorial partners to prevent violations and punish those who compromise that safety,’ Swallow noted.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revoked all of Leto’s airman certificates earlier this year after discovering numerous violations of federal aviation regulations. The investigation into this case was led by the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, with significant assistance from the FAA.
Leto is scheduled to be sentenced before United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer on February 6, 2017. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of six years in federal prison for his violations.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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