Baton Rouge Man Sentenced for Operating an Aircraft in Air Transportation without an Airman’s Certificate

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHRISTOPHER ROBERTS, age 33, of Baton Rouge, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to operating an aircraft in air transportation without an airman’s certificate.

U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced ROBERTS to 5 years of probation.

According to court documents, ROBERTS possessed an airman’s certificate prior to September 2009.  On or about September 10, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued ROBERTS an Emergency Order of Revocation after it was determined that an emergency existed related to safety in air commerce and immediately removed ROBERTS’ airman’s certificates, which are required to pilot an aircraft.  Nevertheless, on or about January 25, 2016, ROBERTS knowingly piloted a Cessna 421 aircraft from Cookville, Tennessee to Hammond, Louisiana.  Additionally, on or about May 16, 2017, ROBERTS knowingly piloted a Cessna 310 aircraft with passengers from the New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, Louisiana to Sarasota/Bradenton Airport in Florida.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine, in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Loan “Mimi” Nguyen was in charge of the prosecution.