Two men from Florida have admitted to running a scheme selling aircraft parts with fake safety approvals, potentially endangering flights both civilian and military. Daniel Navarro, 50, of Miami Lakes, former Vice President of the aviation parts distributer Sofly Aviation Services, and Jorge Guerrero, 71, of Hialeah, a specialist at the company, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Officials said Navarro, and Guerrero have been buying "as removed" parts, those not certified for reuse, since 2012 and turned around to sell them using bogus airworthiness certificates. These parts, which should've undergone rigorous testing and repair, were falsely passed off as fit for flight, which put passengers, and pilots at risk. Their risky business allegedly ran into 2019, ultimately deceiving airlines and even a U.S. Department of Defense contractor, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said, "The prosecutors in our office, alongside our Department of Defense and Department of Transportation partners, are committed to protecting foreign and domestic airlines from people peddling aircraft parts that they falsely and dangerously claim to be airworthy." He emphasized that complying with regulations is crucial to protect travelers and ensure aviation safety.
The counterfeit tags led buyers to believe that the parts had been overhauled, tested, inspected or repaired, when in fact, they had not. Court documents reveal that Navarro and Guerrero would often use an FAA approved repair station’s FAA certificate number to falsely certify the parts. "Falsifying the airworthiness of aircraft parts poses a significant danger to the public and our service members," Darrin K. Jones, a Special Agent-in-Charge at the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, warned, "These guilty pleas demonstrate our commitment to root out corruption and bringing to justice those who compromise the safety and readiness of aircraft for personal gain."
Both men face up to five years in prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000 for their crime. They are scheduled to be sentenced on May 23, the outcome of which is awaited by the aviation community, law enforcement, and the public who seek assurance that the skies they trust are as safe as they are told they are, according to the DOT and DCIS, who conducted the investigation with FAA assistance.
