Marion County Man Pleads Guilty To Aiming A Laser Pointer At A Sheriff’s Office Helicopter

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Adam Santiago Lugo (41, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to a federal indictment charging him with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. Santiago Lugo faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on the night of August 2, 2025, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter (“Air 1”) was in flight over Ocala working a burglary investigation when it was repeatedly struck with a green laser coming from Santiago-Lugo’s residence. The laser strikes interfered with the two-man flight crew’s ability to operate the helicopter and placed it in danger. The crew was forced to fly the helicopter primarily by instrumentation, shielding their eyes with their hands from the laser strikes.  

Using the helicopter’s cameras, the crew located Santiago Lugo in his front yard. He was wearing binoculars and holding a laser pointer in his right hand.

Santiago Lugo in his driveway with the laser pointer and binoculars

(as seen from “Air 1’s” cameras).

Santiago Lugo pointing the laser at “Air-1.”

A deputy was quickly dispatched to the residence and arrested Santiago Lugo. He was still wearing the binoculars around his neck and had the green laser pointer in his hand. After waiving his constitutional rights, Santiago Lugo admitted that he was “just being silly” when he repeatedly struck the helicopter with the green laser. He said he knew the aircraft was a sheriff’s office helicopter because it “flies over his house all the time.”     

This case was investigated by the Federal Air Marshals, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.