Two Oakland police officers assigned to the department’s specialized helicopter unit have been indicted by federal authorities for allegedly participating in a fraudulent scheme to obtain unearned credentials from the Federal Aviation Administration. The federal indictment also names a former FAA safety inspector who is accused of acting as the central enabler in the illicit operation by signing off on fabricated flight tests and paperwork.
The two Oakland Police Department officers, identified in court documents as David Mac and Brandon Mart, made an appearance in an Oakland federal courtroom where they officially entered pleas of not guilty. Both officers have been charged with conspiracy and FAA certification fraud, with Mart facing an additional federal charge for falsifying official records related to aircraft registration certifications.
Federal prosecutors allege that the illicit arrangement was facilitated by William Miller, who was employed as an FAA aviation safety inspector during the period of the alleged conspiracy. Investigators identified Miller as the operational linchpin of the plot, asserting that his position of authority enabled the officers to bypass standard testing requirements and falsely claim credentials they had not legitimate earned.
In his official capacity with the regulatory agency, Miller was authorized to conduct practical flight tests, commonly referred to in the aviation industry as "checkrides." These evaluations serve as a mandatory federal requirement for licensed pilots seeking to obtain advanced airman certifications or specialized instrument ratings to operate aircraft under specific operational conditions.
According to the indictment, the fraudulent conduct began in July 2023 and continued through approximately March 2024. During this timeframe, the three defendants allegedly engaged in an ongoing scheme to draft and submit falsified documentation directly to the FAA to unlawfully secure various levels of airman credentials for the two municipal police officers.
The indictment documents a total of four separate checkrides that were allegedly fabricated over the course of the conspiracy. As a direct consequence of the falsified documentation submitted to the federal regulatory agency, Mart received three fraudulent airman certifications, while Mac was granted one unauthorized credential through the improper verification process.
Federal prosecutors highlighted several major discrepancies in the records submitted by the defendants, including instances where documented tests did not occur at the claimed locations. In one specific case involving Mart, official paperwork claimed that a flight evaluation had taken place locally in California, but digital timestamps obtained by investigators confirmed that Miller was actually in Lakeland, Florida, at the time the flight test supposedly occurred.
Court records also reveal that the defendants engaged in frequent electronic communication to coordinate their fraudulent submissions. In one documented exchange that occurred on July 18, 2024, Mart sent a message to Miller asking if the inspector wanted him to pre-scan any official documents prior to an upcoming administrative filing.
Miller responded directly to Mart's message, instructing the officer to complete the necessary Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application, commonly known as IACRA paperwork, and noting that he would obtain Mart's identification details. In his response, Miller assured the officer that he already knew Mart had the necessary endorsements and logged hours, furthering the coordinated circumvention of standard testing protocols.
In another instance detailed by federal prosecutors from February 2024, Miller allegedly emailed a temporary airman certificate for flying helicopters directly to Mart’s personal email address from his official government FAA account. Both Mart and Miller signed and submitted an official FAA form stating that Mart met all eligibility standards, despite the officer failing to complete the required maneuvers during an actual flight evaluation.
Following the announcement of the federal indictments on Thursday, Oakland Police Chief James Beere issued a formal statement confirming that the department had only just learned of the federal charges against the two helicopter unit members. Chief Beere announced that both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the final outcome of their federal criminal proceedings.
Chief Beere underscored the profound effect that such federal charges have on public perception, emphasizing that law enforcement integrity remains essential to maintaining community trust. The chief noted that when an officer violates that trust, the breach harms the integrity of the individual officer while simultaneously eroding public confidence in the policing profession as a whole.
The police chief further reaffirmed the department’s commitment to accountability, stating clearly that allegations of criminal misconduct against any member of the Oakland Police Department are treated with the highest degree of seriousness. The federal court proceedings and initial arraignments were first reported by the East Bay Times, with additional indictment records subsequently obtained and reviewed by the Chronicle.
As the criminal case against the two Oakland police officers and the former federal aviation safety inspector advances through the federal court system, representatives for the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the charges on Thursday.
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