Helicopter company and owner found guilty of defrauding the feds

Friday, September 9th 2022, 6:12 PM ChST
By Nick Delgado

A clean sweep - guilty on all counts.

Hansen Helicopter owner John Walker was found guilty in the District Court of Guam today. The jury returned with a verdict after deliberating for less than a week.

The company and Walker are now convicted of conspiracy to defraud the federal aviation administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, four counts of aircraft parts fraud, 75 counts of employing a mechanic without a mechanic certificate, two counts of employing a pilot without a pilot’s certificate, two counts of regulation violations involving a helicopter, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and six counts of money laundering.

Hasen Helicopters was also on trial and the jury found the company guilty of circumventing U.S. Aviation Safety regulations to boost its profits.

Prosecutors say the fraudulent operations and the company’s quote – love of money – led to nine deaths and more than dozens injured.

Sentencing will be held before Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood.

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