Two Men Indicted for Laser Strikes on Police Helicopters

LAS VEGAS – Two Las Vegas men in separate cases were indicted and have made their initial appearances in court for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at and striking police helicopters. 

According to allegations contained in the indictments:

• On April 10, 2026, James Bodie Moore III aimed the beam of a laser pointer multiple times at and in the flight path of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter. He is charged with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 28, 2026, before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II.
• On June 7, 2026, Jason Lamars Lee aimed the beam of a laser pointer two times at and in the flight path of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter. He is charged with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 28, 2026, before United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro.

Pointing a laser pointer into the sky to see how far it will shine may seem like a fun thing to do but it can have serious consequences. Aiming a laser beam at an aircraft poses a serious safety risk for those on board and on the ground. Laser beams can cause disorientation, temporary blindness - potentially causing a midair collision or other incident - and in some cases permanent vision problems or blindness. According to the FAA, in 2025, pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Office made the announcement.

The FBI, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and North Las Vegas Police Department investigated these cases. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings is prosecuting these cases.

If you spot someone aiming a laser at the sky in a suspicious manner, you can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov. You can also report laser strikes to local law enforcement and the FAA. 

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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