2 Oakland police officers faked helicopter pilot certifications: prosecutors
OPD chief addresses federal charges against 2 officers
Two Oakland police officers were charged with faking their helicopter pilot certifications, prompting the police chief on Thursday to post a message on Instagram, saying he is working with federal authorities to cooperate with the case.
OAKLAND, Calif. - Two Oakland police officers faked their helicopter pilot certifications, prompting the police chief on Thursday to post a message on Instagram, saying he is working with federal authorities to cooperate with the case.
Chief takes allegations seriously
What they're saying:
"I want my community to know I take the allegations very seriously," Police Chief James Beere said in a pre-recorded video.
He also said the officers in question were placed on leave and that officers in general should be held to a "higher standard."
Beere did not identify the officers, citing personnel issues.
FAA registration fraud
What we know:
But the Bay Area News Group first reported that David Mac and Brandon Mart, both in OPD’s Air Support Unit, were charged and then pleaded not guilty on Thursday to several federal charges.
Mart faces three counts of FAA registration fraud and two counts of obstruction of justice by falsifying records. Mac faces a conspiracy charge and a fraud charge, according to court documents.
Online records show the officers were charged on Aug. 27, but the documents were only unsealed on Thursday.
The indictment alleges that the officers were assigned to the city’s helicopter at the time of the alleged crimes, and that a third man, William Miller, worked as an FAA safety inspector out of Florida.
The scheme involved Mart and Mac allegedly lying about taking mandated test flights in order to obtain FAA certifications throughout 2023 and 2024, and then lying about having taken test flights at the Oakland airport. They then allegedly filled out forms with false information, federal prosecutors allege.
The indictment alleges that Mart received three fraudulent certifications and Mac received at least one.
It's unclear what motivated the officers to do this, or why the case has come to light now. It's also unclear how the officers knew Miller, or what prompted the alleged conspiracy. No mention of money or bribes were alleged in the indictment.
What's next:
All three defendants were released on $25,000 bond and ordered to surrender their passports.
The officers are scheduled to return to court Nov. 30 for a status conference before Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin in Oakland.
The Source: The information for this story came from the East Bay Times, federal court documents, and a video from the Oakland police chief.