Federal prosecutors have unsealed a criminal indictment charging two Oakland police officers and a former federal aviation safety inspector in connection with an alleged conspiracy to bypass mandatory testing requirements and unlawfully secure official pilot credentials. The federal charges detail an illicit arrangement centered on the submission of fabricated flight records and fraudulent paperwork directly to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The two officers named in the indictment, David Mac and Brandon Mart, were assigned to the Oakland Police Department's specialized helicopter division. On Thursday, both officers made an appearance in an Oakland federal courtroom for their formal arraignment, an event initially reported by the East Bay Times. During the proceeding, both Mac and Mart entered formal pleas of not guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and FAA certification fraud.
According to the federal indictment, both law enforcement officers are charged with conspiracy to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration along with substantive FAA certification fraud counts. In addition to these joint offenses, Mart faces an individual charge accusing him of falsifying official records as part of the broader effort to obtain airman ratings without completing the required evaluation steps.
The indictment names William Miller, who was employed at the time as an FAA aviation safety inspector, as the central figure and linchpin of the fraudulent enterprise. Authorities allege that Miller utilized his official federal position, which granted him the authority to administer practical flight tests known within the aviation industry as checkrides, to improperly validate pilot credentials and instrument ratings for the officers.
Federal prosecutors allege that the illicit scheme operated over a span of several months, commencing in July 2023 and continuing through approximately March 2024. Over the course of that timeframe, Mart, Mac, and Miller are accused of working collaboratively to transmit fraudulent documentation to the FAA to improperly secure multiple airman certifications.
Court documents obtained by the Chronicle reveal that the scheme involved the submission of deceptive materials tied to four separate practical flight examinations. As a direct result of these fraudulent filings, Mart received three unauthorized FAA certifications, while Mac obtained one certification that he had not legitimately earned through required flight testing procedures.
The indictment highlights significant discrepancies in the official paperwork submitted to federal regulators, noting that certain checkrides never occurred at the locations recorded on official forms. In one specific instance cited by prosecutors, records indicated a flight evaluation was conducted for Mart in California, but digital timestamp data confirmed that Miller was actually located across the country in Lakeland, Florida, at that time.
Federal investigators also uncovered extensive communications among the three co-defendants that illustrated their ongoing coordination. On July 18, 2024, Mart reportedly contacted Miller to ask whether the inspector wanted him to pre-scan any necessary documents prior to an upcoming administrative step.
In his recorded response, Miller instructed Mart to ensure that the online Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application paperwork was completed so he could retrieve the officer's identification details. In the message, Miller reassured Mart by stating that he already knew the officer possessed the necessary flight endorsements and logged hours.
The indictment further details an occurrence from February 2024 in which Miller allegedly provided Mart with a temporary airman certificate authorizing him to pilot helicopters. Court filings indicate that Miller transmitted the official credential directly from his government FAA email account to Mart's personal email inbox.
Federal prosecutors emphasized that both Miller and Mart signed and submitted official FAA documentation claiming that Mart was fully eligible for the helicopter rating. However, investigators noted that during the practical flight evaluation, Mart failed to perform the mandatory flight maneuvers necessary to demonstrate competency and earn the certification.
Following the arraignment and the public disclosure of the federal charges, Oakland Police Chief James Beere issued a formal statement addressing the situation. Chief Beere clarified that the police department had only been informed of the federal indictment concerning the two department members on Thursday, the same day the officers appeared in court.
Although the chief did not identify the officers by name in his public statement, he confirmed that both individuals have been placed on administrative leave pending the legal resolution of their federal criminal cases. Chief Beere stressed the importance of public trust and noted the damage that alleged criminal conduct causes to the relationship between law enforcement and the public.
"When an officer violates that trust, it not only undermines the integrity of that individual, but it also erodes the confidence our community has in the entire profession," Chief Beere stated, emphasizing that the department takes allegations of criminal misconduct against any of its members very seriously. The U.S. Attorney's Office did not respond to phone calls or email messages seeking comment on Thursday.
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