Two police officers with the Oakland Police Department and an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration are facing serious federal criminal charges after allegedly engaging in a scheme to fraudulently obtain helicopter pilot certifications, according to court documents.
The federal indictment describes a coordinated effort spanning several months, alleging that police officers Brandon Mart and David Mac conspired with FAA aviation safety inspector William Miller between July 2023 and March 2024. Throughout this period, the three individuals allegedly worked together to forge official records indicating that the officers had successfully met the necessary standards to operate rotary-wing aircraft.
At the center of the criminal case is the industry-standard evaluation known as a checkride. In aviation, a checkride serves as a mandatory, comprehensive examination required by federal authorities before an individual can be granted an official pilot certification.
To successfully pass a checkride, an applicant must complete both an oral exam covering federal aviation regulations and aircraft systems, as well as a practical flight test demonstrating specific aerial maneuvers in real flight conditions. The examination is designed to ensure that every certified pilot meets rigorous safety and operational standards.
According to the indictment filed on August 27, Mart received three fraudulent checkride certifications, while Mac obtained one. Federal prosecutors assert that the certifications were granted despite the officers failing to complete the necessary test requirements, with multiple purported checkrides having never taken place at all.
The charging documents outline multiple specific instances of falsification. In one documented incident from July 20, 2023, Miller allegedly signed official paperwork stating that Mart had completed a flight evaluation departing from Oakland International Airport between 7:13 a.m. and 12:32 p.m.
However, prosecutors allege that the flight in question never occurred. Investigators determined that Miller, the inspector responsible for administering and verifying the evaluation in California, was physically located across the country in Lakeland, Florida, during the time the checkride was supposedly conducted.
A similar pattern of fabricated records was identified regarding Officer Mac's certification. On February 28, 2024, Miller and Mac allegedly signed paperwork certifying the successful completion of a checkride at Oakland International Airport. Subsequent reviews of flight and maintenance records revealed that the specific helicopter listed in the submitted documentation never flew during that timeframe.
In another instance highlighted by prosecutors, an actual flight did take place on February 27, 2024, with Officer Mart at the controls. However, federal investigators state that Mart failed to perform the full complement of maneuvers legally required to secure certification. Despite these deficiencies, Miller allegedly signed off on the paperwork to grant the credential.
During a recent Thursday court appearance, Mart, Mac, and Miller all pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges. The indictment against them includes counts of conspiracy, defrauding the FAA, and falsifying official records. Following their pleas, the defendants were instructed to return to court for their next scheduled hearing on November 30.
The unveiling of the federal charges prompted an immediate response from Oakland Police Chief James Beere, who addressed the community in a video statement released on Instagram. Chief Beere stated that the police department only learned of the federal criminal allegations on the same Thursday the defendants appeared in court.
Although Chief Beere did not identify the officers by name or detail the specific allegations in his public video address, he emphasized that misconduct within the department would not be tolerated. He underscored the high ethical standards expected of law enforcement personnel.
"When I became chief of police, I made it clear that anyone who commits a crime in our city will be held accountable, including members of the Oakland Police Department, who are entrusted with a level of authority and responsibility that few others are given," Chief Beere stated in the video.
Following the initial court proceedings, the Oakland Police Department confirmed that both Mart and Mac have been placed on paid administrative leave. In response to the federal indictment, the department has also launched a comprehensive internal audit to review the credentials and certifications of all other pilots assigned to its helicopter unit.
Department officials declined to answer questions regarding whether either officer utilized the fraudulent certifications to fly active police missions or operational flights for the city, describing the ongoing probe as a personnel matter.
Representatives for the Federal Aviation Administration also declined to provide comment regarding the federal investigation into its inspector and the related certification fraud allegations.
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