Federal prosecutors have unsealed a criminal indictment against two Oakland Police Department officers assigned to the municipal helicopter unit, accusing them of partnering with a federal aviation safety inspector to fraudulently obtain specialized pilot credentials they had not earned. The indictment alleges that the law enforcement officers engaged in an illicit conspiracy designed to deceive the Federal Aviation Administration by submitting falsified flight logs and fabricated testing records to bypass mandatory regulatory requirements.
The two municipal officers, identified in federal court records as Brandon Mart and David Mac, made their initial appearances on Thursday in an Oakland federal courtroom following the formal unsealing of the charges. During their arraignment, both defendants entered pleas of not guilty to charges of conspiracy and FAA certification fraud. Mart was additionally charged with falsifying official records in connection with the alleged scheme.
Alongside the two local police officers, federal prosecutors also indicted William Miller, an individual who was employed at the time as an aviation safety inspector for the FAA. In court filings, prosecutors characterized Miller as the indispensable linchpin of the fraudulent operation, asserting that his official position and regulatory authority made it possible for the officers to fake flight evaluations and secure unearned airman certifications.
Under federal aviation standards, Miller held the official authorization to oversee and administer practical flight examinations, known throughout the aviation industry as checkrides. These comprehensive flight evaluations serve as mandatory milestones for pilots seeking advanced airman certifications, specialized instrument ratings, or expanded operational privileges. During a standard checkride, an applicant is required to demonstrate hands-on piloting proficiency and complete specific aerial maneuvers under the direct observation of an authorized examiner.
Federal prosecutors allege that the unlawful conspiracy unfolded over an extended timeframe, operating from approximately July 2023 through March 2024. Throughout this period, Mart, Mac, and Miller allegedly worked together to generate and submit a variety of fraudulent documents directly to the FAA, purposefully misrepresenting the officers' practical flight experience and test completions to secure formal airman credentials.
The multi-month scheme involved the falsification of records associated with four separate checkrides that were never properly conducted according to federal standards. As a direct result of these manufactured flight tests and misleading filings, Mart allegedly obtained three fraudulent airman certifications, while Mac improperly secured one unearned aviation credential through the collaborative deception.
Federal investigators uncovered several glaring geographical and physical discrepancies in the documentation submitted to the agency. In one notable instance regarding a checkride attributed to Mart, the official records asserted that the evaluation was administered locally. However, digital timestamp data obtained by investigators revealed that Miller was actually in Lakeland, Florida, at the time, making it physically impossible for him to have administered the practical flight examination in California as claimed.
The indictment further outlines an incident from February 2024 in which Miller allegedly used his official FAA government email account to send a temporary airman certificate for helicopter operations directly to Mart’s personal email address. This document purported to validate Mart's eligibility for specific helicopter flight operations despite the absence of lawful, verified flight testing.
According to federal prosecutors, both Mart and Miller signed and submitted an official FAA form declaring that Mart was fully eligible for the airman certificate. The indictment highlights, however, that while a test flight did take place, Mart failed to complete the mandatory flight maneuvers that are legally and strictly required by federal aviation regulations before such a qualification can be granted.
Court records also reveal direct electronic communications demonstrating active and routine coordination among the co-conspirators. In one message exchange from July 18, 2024, Mart contacted Miller to ask whether he should pre-scan any necessary documentation prior to an upcoming meeting. Miller responded warmly, instructing Mart to have his Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) completed and noting that he would simply collect his identification information because he already knew Mart had the requisite hours and endorsements.
Following the arraignment and the public disclosure of the criminal charges, Oakland Police Chief James Beere confirmed that department leadership had only learned of the federal indictment involving the two aerial unit members on Thursday. In response to the serious nature of the federal accusations, the department immediately placed both officers on administrative leave pending the final outcome of the judicial proceedings.
In an official statement addressing the matter, Chief Beere spoke on the critical importance of law enforcement ethics and the broader implications of officer misconduct. Beere noted that whenever an officer violates the public trust, it fundamentally damages the integrity of that individual while eroding the confidence the broader community places in the entire policing profession. He affirmed that the department takes all allegations of criminal wrongdoing against its personnel with absolute seriousness.
Representatives for the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment or telephone inquiries following the arraignment on Thursday. As the criminal case moves forward in federal court, the prosecution highlights ongoing federal scrutiny over the integrity of aviation testing protocols and the rigorous oversight required to ensure pilot qualifications remain authentic and safe.
(0)