By John Ogunsemore
A Nigerian pilot, Olukayode Aduragbenro Ojo, faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines after being convicted by a federal jury in Texas, United States, of two counts of making a false statement to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain a medical certificate necessary to pilot a commercial passenger aircraft.
US Attorney J. Troester announced this in a statement on Monday, August 26, and published on the website of the Transport Security Administration (TSA).
Following the guilty verdict, US District Judge Jodi W. Dishman ordered Ojo to be detained pending sentencing.
Troester said evidence presented at trial indicated that Ojo, an FAA-certified commercial airline pilot, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanour theft charges on February 8, 2023, in Kentucky state court in connection with a theft of passenger luggage from the baggage carousels at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
“Ojo then made false statements to the FAA in March 2023 and March 2024 while applying for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate to conceal his history of prior criminal convictions.
“A First Class Medical Certificate permits an airman to pilot commercial passenger aircraft,” the statement reads in part.
On June 4, a federal jury returned a two-count Superseding Indictment against Ojo, charging him with two counts of making a false statement.
On August 16, a federal jury found Ojo guilty on both counts.
The convict faces up to five years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000.00 on each count.