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Five Charged in Aviation Equipment Fraud Case

New Jersey attorney general says group pretended to make sales, stole payments.

The defendants allegedly pretended to sell the specialized aviation equipment to companies between February 3, 2017, and March 28, 2022. [File photo: Adobe Stock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The New Jersey Attorney General's office has charged five individuals for an alleged internet fraud scheme involving the fake sale of aircraft ground-support equipment.
  • The defendants are accused of defrauding U.S. and international businesses of over $1 million by collecting payments for equipment and parts that were never delivered.
  • Charges against the individuals include second-degree conspiracy, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, and money laundering, stemming from activities between 2017 and 2022.
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The New Jersey Attorney General’s office has charged five people in connection with an alleged internet fraud scheme involving the sale of aircraft ground-support equipment and spare parts.

The defendants allegedly pretended to sell the specialized aviation equipment to companies between February 3, 2017, and March 28, 2022. Under the scheme, the accused waited for buyers to deposit payments for the equipment in bank accounts and then “removed the funds via a series of cash withdrawals, or transfers to another identified co-conspirator’s account,” Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a statement. 

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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