Two Oakland Police Department officers assigned to the agency’s specialized helicopter unit have been indicted on federal criminal charges, accused of engaging in an illicit conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration and submitting fraudulent documentation to secure unearned pilot certifications.
The officers, identified in court records as David Mac and Brandon Mart, were formally arraigned on Thursday in a federal courtroom located in Oakland. During the initial hearing, both officers entered pleas of not guilty to counts of conspiracy and FAA certification fraud. Mart also faces an individual charge alleging the falsification of official records in connection with the scheme.
In addition to the two municipal police officers, federal prosecutors indicted William Miller, who was employed as an aviation safety inspector with the FAA during the timeframe of the alleged offenses. Government prosecutors have identified Miller as the central linchpin of the fraudulent operation, asserting that his official position enabled the officers to bypass critical safety requirements and receive credentials they had not legitimately qualified for.
According to the federal indictment, Miller held official authorization from the FAA to conduct practical flight examinations known across the aviation industry as "checkrides." These evaluations serve as a mandatory benchmark for pilots seeking specialized instrument ratings, upgraded classifications, or advanced airman credentials.
The charging documents allege that the unlawful conspiracy began operating around July 2023 and continued through approximately March 2024. Throughout this multi-month period, Mac, Mart, and Miller are accused of preparing and transmitting fabricated paperwork and false declarations to the FAA in order to improperly obtain various official airman ratings.
Federal investigators stated that the overarching fraudulent scheme involved deceptive documentation tied to four separate checkride examinations. The indictment notes that the processing of these fraudulent test records resulted in Mart obtaining three illegitimate FAA certifications, while Mac was granted one unauthorized credential through the falsified filings.
Court filings outline clear discrepancies uncovered by investigators during the examination of the paperwork submitted by the defendants. In one documented instance involving a checkride purportedly completed by Mart in California, federal authorities determined that the administering inspector was not present in the state. Digital timestamp data analyzed by investigators confirmed that Miller was physically located across the country in Lakeland, Florida, at the precise time the examination was documented as taking place.
The indictment further details recurring digital communications between the three co-conspirators, which prosecutors argue demonstrate an intentional and coordinated effort to manipulate the federal certification process and bypass testing protocols.
In an electronic exchange highlighted in the indictment from July 18, 2024, Mart contacted Miller directly to coordinate paperwork, asking the safety inspector whether he wanted relevant documents pre-scanned ahead of the following day. Miller responded affirmatively, instructing the officer to complete his submission within the FAA's online application system, known as IACRA, and noting that he would obtain identification details while taking for granted that Mart possessed the necessary endorsements and logged flight hours.
Federal prosecutors also detailed a specific February 2024 episode in which Miller utilized his official government email account to forward a temporary airman certificate for rotorcraft helicopter operations directly to Mart’s personal email address.
Subsequent filings submitted to the FAA indicated that Mart had met all necessary qualifications and fulfilled standard testing requirements for the certificate, bearing the signatures of both Mart and Miller. However, prosecutors allege that during the associated test flight, Mart never actually performed or completed the compulsory aeronautical maneuvers required by federal regulations to earn the rating.
The unsealing of the federal indictment prompted immediate administrative measures within the Oakland Police Department. Police Chief James Beere issued a formal statement on Thursday confirming that leadership had just been apprised of the federal criminal charges brought against the two helicopter unit personnel.
Chief Beere confirmed that both officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the resolution and legal outcome of their federal criminal prosecution, while emphasizing the serious nature of the allegations facing members of the department's aerial division.
In his public statement, Chief Beere underscored the fundamental importance of professional integrity within law enforcement, noting that when an officer compromises public trust, it impairs individual credibility and diminishes community confidence in the entire policing profession. He reiterated that the department views criminal allegations against any of its personnel with the utmost gravity.
Representatives from the United States Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to inquiries or requests for comment on Thursday following the conclusion of the arraignment proceedings.
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