Aviation News

Meacham Field Aviation Mechanics Indicted

United States Attorney Jane J. Boyle announced that a federal grand jury returned a 36-count indictment yesterday charging fifteen aviation mechanics with various felony offenses related to making false statements and using false and fraudulent identification documents. Most of the defendants were initially detained on June 28, 2002 at their place of employment, Spirit Aviation Services, Meacham Field, Fort Worth, Texas.

The indictment alleges that all of the defendants worked as aircraft mechanics at Spirit Aviation Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spirit Airlines. Spirit Airlines is a commercial air carrier with corporate offices in Miramar, Florida. When the defendants applied for jobs, some of the defendants were screened and hired directly by Spirit Aviation. However, pre-employment screening for many of the defendants was provided by Sharp Aviation of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Sharp Aviation provided independent contract employees to Spirit Aviation.

The indictment further charges that all of the defendants were required to complete several forms and provide various forms of personal identification as part of the employment screening process. Some of the defendants were screened and then hired directly by Spirit Aviation Services, but most were screened by Sharp Aviation and then provided as contract employees to Spirit Aviation Services.

The indictment further alleges that the defendants made false statements and used false documents in order to fraudulently gain employment as aircraft mechanics at Spirit Aviation Services. In particular, all 15 defendants made false statements when they completed their employment eligibility verification forms by falsely claiming to be either lawful permanent resident aliens or citizens or nationals of the United States.

As part of the employment screening process, the defendants were required to provide several different types of personal identification. The indictment further charges that these defendants used several fraudulent personal identification documents as part of their ongoing effort to secure employment at Spirit Aviation Services. According to the indictment, the defendants committed several different felony offenses in order to secure employment. These offenses included: the possession and use of false and fraudulent resident alien registration cards; the alteration of social security cards; falsely representing that a social security number was assigned to them; providing false information to obtain a social security account number; and falsely claiming to be a citizen or national of the United States.

Each of these defendants is charged with from one to four felony charges related to the use of fraudulent immigration and personal identification documents. Depending on the charges pending against each defendant, the maximum range of punishment for each defendant ranges from five years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine to 25 years imprisonment and/or a $1 million fine. Arraignment for all defendants is tentatively scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil at the federal courthouse in Fort Worth on July 31, 2002.

Spirit Aviation and Sharp Aviation have been fully cooperative with law enforcement officials from the onset of the investigation. This case resulted from the joint investigative efforts of the United States Border Patrol, the Social Security Administration, and the North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney David Jarvis is the prosecuting attorney.

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	Did You Know?
	Work-related aircraft crashes are the leading cause of occupational fatality in Alaska With civilian pilots having the highest fatality rate (410/100,000/year). Between 1990 and 1998, aviation accidents in Alaska caused 100 occupational pilot deaths. Most fatalities resulted from Controlled Flight Into Terrain - (CFIT) poor visibility & pilot error were big factors.