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4 executives of Guam-based helicopter firm charged
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Posted on Jun 04 2018
HAGATNA, Guam—Four men have been indicted in federal court for allegedly conspiring to use and lease unsafe aircraft that did not comply with U.S. safety aviation regulations.
John Darrell Walker alias Jon Walker, Marvin R. Reed, Kenneth Rufus Crowe and Phillip Turner Kapp were arrested on May 31, 2018.
A federal grand jury returned a 23-count indictment against the four Hansen Helicopters Inc. employees.
The indictment charges conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board; honest services fraud; wire fraud; money laundering; destruction, alteration or falsification of records; attempted destruction of an aircraft; and false statements.
On March 28, 2018, FAA safety inspector Timothy J. Cislo pleaded guilty in District Court of Guam to three counts of honest services wire fraud involving Hansen.
Cislo issued airworthiness certificates to Hansen without inspecting the helicopters in exchange for an airplane for his personal use.
“This investigation targeted a bribery and fraud scheme between a private business and a public government official who was entrusted with oversight of aviation safety,” said FBI special agent in charge Sean Kaul. “When private companies place higher value on profits over public safety, innocent lives are put in danger. The FBI will continue to prioritize corruption investigations and hold accountable all those who betray the public’s best interest and trust.”
The owner of Hansen Helicopters, John Darrell Walker, resides in Missouri and was arrested there. Reed, Crowe and Kapp were arrested in Harmon, Guam.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Guam Customs and Quarantine.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and Walker, Reed, Crowe and Kapp are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. (FBI)
