A federal jury has found commercial pilot Olukayode Aduragbenro Ojo, 36, of Dallas, TX, guilty on two counts of making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The conviction, announced by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester, relates to Ojo’s applications for a medical certificate required to operate commercial passenger aircraft.
Case Background
The current case stems from Ojo’s prior legal troubles in Kentucky. In February 2023, he had pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor theft charges. This related to the theft of passenger luggage at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. This incident then set the stage for the subsequent conviction.
Following his guilty plea in February, Ojo, an FAA-certified commercial airline pilot, submitted applications for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate in March 2023 and again in March 2024.
On both occasions, he deliberately failed to disclose his criminal convictions, a move that prosecutors argued was an attempt to maintain his ability to pilot commercial aircraft.
The trial revealed the gravity of Ojo’s actions. By concealing his criminal history, he not only violated federal law but also potentially compromised aviation safety standards.
The First Class Medical Certificate he sought is a crucial document that permits a person to pilot commercial passenger aircraft, underlining the seriousness of his false statements.
Two Counts of Making a False Statement
On June 4, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a two-count Superseding Indictment against Ojo. They charged him with two counts of making a false statement. The subsequent trial, concluding on August 16, 2024, saw the jury find Ojo guilty on both counts.
In the aftermath of the verdict, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman took the step of ordering Ojo to be detained pending sentencing. The consequences of his actions are severe. Ojo now potentially faces up to five years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 for each count.
This case was the result of a investigation by the Transportation Security Administration–Investigations, and involved the collaborative efforts of federal agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson Eldridge and Matt Dillon are handling the prosecution.
The Dallas commercial pilot conviction serves as something of a precautionary tale to all aviation professionals about the critical nature of their interactions with regulatory bodies. It underscores the rigidity of the rigorous screening and certification processes for pilots.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly newsleter.
Click the photo to join our WhatsApp channel so then you can stay up to date with everything going on in the aviation industry!
