Two helicopter pilots with the Oakland Police Department and an inspector employed by the Federal Aviation Administration are facing serious federal criminal charges following an indictment that accuses them of conspiring to falsify mandatory pilot certifications. Prosecutors allege that the law enforcement officers skirted rigorous federal aviation safety standards by collaborating with an agency insider to obtain fraudulent credentials over an extended period.
According to federal court records, Oakland police officers Brandon Mart and David Mac entered pleas of not guilty during a recent court appearance, as did FAA aviation inspector William Miller. The trio faces multiple federal counts that include conspiracy, falsifying records, and defrauding the Federal Aviation Administration. The case highlights significant allegations of misconduct at the intersection of municipal law enforcement and federal regulatory oversight.
The formal indictment, which was officially filed on August 27, outlines a coordinated scheme that allegedly took place between July 2023 and March 2024. Over those months, Mart and Mac are accused of working directly with Miller to generate and process fraudulent documentation designed to certify them as qualified helicopter pilots without meeting the necessary testing criteria established by federal regulations.
At the core of the federal indictment are falsified records concerning official evaluation flights commonly referred to in the aviation industry as checkrides. Under standard FAA protocol, a checkride represents a mandatory milestone required to secure formal pilot certification. The comprehensive evaluation involves a rigorous practical flight exam requiring candidates to demonstrate specific aerial maneuvers, paired with an extensive oral test covering critical subject areas such as aircraft systems and federal aviation regulations.
Federal prosecutors allege that Mart received three separate fraudulent checkride certifications, while Mac received one illegitimate certification through the scheme. The indictment asserts that in some instances the officers completely failed to complete the required flight maneuvers, while in other circumstances the certified evaluation flights never actually occurred at all.
One detailed instance highlighted in the government's filing occurred on July 20, 2023. Paperwork signed off by Miller claimed that Mart completed a successful checkride originating from Oakland International Airport between the hours of 7:13 a.m. and 12:32 p.m. However, investigators determined that the evaluation flight never took place and that Miller was physically present in Lakeland, Florida, at the exact time the California checkride was supposedly conducted.
Federal authorities documented additional fraudulent activity taking place early the following year. On February 27, 2024, Mart reportedly did operate an aircraft for an evaluation flight; however, prosecutors state that he failed to execute the essential aerial maneuvers mandated to earn the official certification. Despite the incomplete examination and substandard performance, Miller allegedly approved the paperwork and certified the checkride.
The following day, on February 28, 2024, Mac and Miller reportedly collaborated on another fabricated evaluation document. Both men signed off on paperwork stating that Mac had conducted and passed a checkride at Oakland International Airport. Subsequent reviews of flight tracking data and official records revealed that the specific helicopter listed in the examination paperwork never even left the ground during the timeframe documented.
The criminal proceedings became public following a Thursday hearing where all three defendants formally pleaded not guilty to the federal charges filed against them. Following the hearing, the court scheduled the defendants to make their next appearance before a federal judge on November 30, as prosecutors prepare to advance the case.
In response to the developments, Oakland Police Department Chief James Beere released a video statement on Instagram addressing the community. Beere disclosed that the department had only become aware of the federal allegations on Thursday, the very same day the defendants made their initial court appearance. While the police chief did not mention the officers by name or detail the specifics of the federal charges in the video, he emphasized the importance of integrity within the department.
In his public remarks, Chief Beere underscored the rigorous standards expected of sworn personnel, stating that when he took the helm of the department, he made it clear that any individual who commits a crime within the city must be held accountable. He noted that members of the Oakland Police Department are entrusted with a unique level of authority and responsibility that few others in society are given, necessitating total transparency and accountability.
Following the indictment, the Oakland Police Department confirmed that both Mart and Mac have been placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation. In addition to the personnel actions taken against the two officers, the department has launched a comprehensive internal audit examining the certification records and credentials of all other pilots currently assigned to its helicopter unit.
Department officials declined to comment on whether Mart or Mac had utilized the allegedly fraudulent certifications to pilot operational law enforcement flights across Oakland or the surrounding Bay Area, citing the ongoing internal personnel investigation. For its part, the Federal Aviation Administration declined requests to comment on the active criminal proceedings involving its inspector.
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