Former Tradewinds A300 pilot finally jailed for FAA fraud

[SassyPilotsWife]

USDOJ: US Attorney's Office - Western District of Oklahoma (http://www.justice.gov/usao/okw/news/2012/2012_04_25.html)


Texas Man Sentenced for Lying to FAA
to Obtain Pilot Credentials


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – JUAN PABLO MUNOZ, 32, of Spring, Texas, pled guilty to submitting false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding his training necessary to receive a pilot’s certificate, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. At the same hearing, Munoz was sentenced by United States District Judge Timothy DeGiusti to serve ten months in prison, five of which are served in home confinement by electronic monitoring, serve two years of supervised release, and complete 104 hours of community service.
According to Court records and information from the plea hearing and sentencing, from August of 2006 to July of 2009 Munoz devised a scheme to defraud the FAA by submitting false and forged FAA Airman Certificate forms representing that he had received flight instructions and proficiency checks for various aircraft. Based on the false Airman Certificate forms, Munoz requested rating endorsements to his pilot’s certificate. The false submissions resulted in the granting of credentials to Munoz which increased the number and type of aircraft he could operate, certified him as a repairman on aircraft, and authorized him to provide flight instruction.
At the sentencing phase of the hearing, Judge DeGiusti took into account that Munoz had made a total of 27 separate false submissions to the FAA.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the FAA’s Civil Aviation Registry, Flight Standards Office and Security and Investigations Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Robinson."


Glad to see this scum bag getting jail time ( should be alot more). Some of those 27 counts included my husbands forged signature. Not for the A300, but a different aircraft! Hats off to my sweetheart for assisting authorities in busting this jerk and well done FAA agent R and Mr. Robinson :D

[Melax]

Could this guy be the same person ? If indeed it is, that is very scary !!! it seems that there is a plethora of aviation books published under the same name.
Perhaps the publishers and the FAA should know this.
Book Details (http://www.wordclay.com/BookStore/BookStoreBookDetails.aspx?bookid=22248)
http://www.wordclay.com/BookstoreThumbnails/22248.jpg View Large Cover Image
QUICK STUDY GUIDE FOR THE A300-B4! : Training Manual For Captains, First Officers and Flight Engineers

Author: JUAN PABLO MUNOZ
Published: 5/28/2008 6:14:31 PM
Pages: 232
Keywords: A3001, A300B2/B43, A300B42, GUIDE5, QUICKSTUDY5
Audience Level: Everyone
Genres: Transportation / Aviation / GeneralReference / GeneralReference / Personal & Practical Guides

About the Book THE QUICK STUDY GUIDE FOR THE A300-B4! USE THIS GUIDE FOR YOUR PREPARATION FOR YOUR CAPTAIN UPGRADE, FIRST OFFICER CHECK AND YOUR FLIGHT ENGINNER CHECK RIDE.
About the Author JUAN PABLO MUNOZ ORIGINALLY FROM BARRANQUILLA-COLOMBIA, HOLDS AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT LICENSE WITH SINGLE AND MULTI-ENGINE LAND RATINGS, WITH SECOND IN COMMAND QUALIFICATIONS IN A300; A320; B707; B720; B727; B737; B747; B747-400; B757; B767; B777; BE300; CE500; DC-3; DC-4; DC-8; DC-10; EMB-145; L1011; L1329; MD-11 WITH COMMERCIAL PRIVILEDGES IN AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE SEA. CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WITH SINGLE ENGINE, MULTI-ENGINE AND INSTRUMENT RATINGS. GROUND INSTRUCTOR WITH ADVANCED AND INSTRUMENT RATINGS. FLIGHT ENGINEER LICENSE WITH TURBO JET POWERED RATING. SPORT PILOT INSTRUCTOR IN GLIDER; WEIGHT SHIFT CONTROL LAND; POWERED PARACHUTE.

HE HAS LOGGED MORE THAN 2,000 HOURS AS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND HE IS AN FAA GOLD SEAL INSTRUCTOR, A FAA SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOUSTON FSDO SINCE 2001 AND A MASTER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFIED FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS (NAFI). HE ALSO HOLDS THE HIGHEST FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISION GENERAL RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATORS LICENSE WITH RADAR ENDORSEMENT AND AN AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE WITH EXTRA PRIVILEDGES SINCE 1999, CALLSIGN KC2FKM. HE IS A CERTIFIED JUNIOR TECHNICIAN FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RADIO AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERS, INC, (NARTE).

! COOKING WITH JUAN!
THIS BEING HIS FIRST BOOK IN COOKING, HE RECEIVES HIS FIRST CULINARY EXPERIENCE FROM HIS MOTHER SILVIA, WHEN HE WAS A BOY, WATCHING HIS MOTHER COOKING AND MAKING COOKIES, CAKES, IN THE SMALL CITY OF BARRANQUILLA-COLOMBIA. HE OFFERS THE BEST OF HISPANIC COOKING, CREATING HIS OWN RECIPES, WITH ENORMOUS VALUE TO ANYONE WHO NOT ONLY LOVES PREPARING DELECTABLES SPANISH DISHES BUT ALSO ENJOYS AN OFTEN MORE FORMIDABLE MISSION: THE QUEST FOR SUITABLE SPANISH COOKING THAT WILL COMPLEMENT THEM IN THE MOST INSPIRING WAY.
HE IS AN AIRCRAFT APPRAISER IN THE FLORIDA AREA. WHERE HE OWN HIS BUSINESS. IN HIS SPARE TIME JUAN SERVERS AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IN THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT AT THE LORENZO WALKER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. HE HOLDS MEMBERSHIPS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION, AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION, SEAPLANES PILOTS ASSOCIATION, CIVIL AIR PATROL, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT INSTRCUTORS, AMATEUR RADIO RELAY LEAGUE, NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESIONALS. HE IS NOW WORKING IN OBTAINING HIS COMMERCIAL BALLOON AND HELICOPTER RATINGS. HE HOPES THAT ALL OF HIS BOOKS WILL FOSTER SAFETY THROUGH EDUCATION.
http://www.amazon.com/Aviation-Glossary-Definitions-Acronyms-ebook/dp/B006J3QBD2

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lEG5wwvBL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-59,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

[Piltdown Man]

...and in his spare time does heart surgery, fly-fishing, advises various governments on global issues, teaches dolphins to swim and speaks at bar mitzvahs.

[PENKO]

So he is qualified as second in command on the A300, 747, 727, 737, 767, 707, 729, DC3, DC4, DC10, MD11 L1011 etc. etc, is 32 and has also qualified as an instructor.

This guy does not deserve jail time, he just needs a very good psychiatrist!

[Kingfisher]

No PENKO, like our mutual friend he needs jail time.

[Callsign Kilo]

Little man syndrome has bit him in the arse. Nevertheless, Big Earl will keep him warm at night down the local correction facility. He can put than in his book.

[haejangkuk]

Over in ROK, we have many Juan Pablo Munozes with B777, B744 and B737NG ratings from aviation mills! At least the FAA caught this one, but KCASA and KAL are sleeping in cohoots with the rcruitment agencies to give these con artists foothold over here.

[Tinstaafl]

Surely suspicions would have been raised with all those *SIC* ratings? How does one end up with so many type ratings and nary a command rating in sight? Add his age vs quantity & variety of ratings and I'd be after a pretty decent explanation.

[Airbubba]

Surely suspicions would have been raised with all those *SIC* ratings? How does one end up with so many type ratings and nary a command rating in sight? Add his age vs quantity & variety of ratings and I'd be after a pretty decent explanation.

I don't think the FAA even issued SIC type ratings before 2006. Seems like all you needed in years past was a commercial licence and a second class medical to ride in the right seat on a big plane. And even now, I think the SIC type ratings are still not required for U.S. domestic operations. So maybe this clown was technically telling the truth since he had at least a commercial license and a second class medical.

Back in the glory days, some airlines (e.g. Pan Am and perhaps TWA?) gave the FO's ATP PIC type ratings on all the planes, there were no SIC type ratings in the U.S. system back then. Taxi, a left seat reject and an engine out missed approach were about all that was additional on the captain's proficiency check as I recall.

Most U.S. international operations are now done with PIC typed FO's to provide flexibility with augmented crews.

[TowerDog]

Seems like all you needed in years past was a commercial licence and a second class medical to ride in the right seat on a big plane

And the tiny little detail called a 2 month course with a FAR Part 121 SIC Check Ride including simulator and bounces, basic indoc, emergency pool training, systems, nav course and a bunch of other stuff just to climb into the right seat of an Evergreen DC-8, the hardest 2 months of my life..:sad:

[Tinstaafl]

You still don't need an SIC rating for domestic US ops (but do once the flight leaves US borders), however it's not just a case of CPL & get in. The SIC still has to be trained on the aircraft type, including Pt 91 flights.

Once public transport is involved ie Pt 135 et al, then, as Towerdog wrote, the whole induction training system gets invoked along with a qualifying check ride.

[Airbubba]

A long while back there was a cheating scandal at the Air Force Reserve F-16 unit at Homestead AFB near MIA. One of the guys in the unit was a fed and would give out the written tests, leave a copy of the answer sheet on the desk and leave the room. Even fighter pilots could now pass the writtens for ATP, FE and dispatcher. :D

Somehow word leaked out and the whole scheme collapsed with grand jury indictments and military discipline proceedings.

Don't know if anyone did hard time in this one but one of my friends (callsign 'JR') unnamed in the NYT article below, had his ATP, but not his FE ticket, pulled by the FAA. Our airline let him downbid to FE where he laid low until the FAA let him retake the exams a couple of years later. I'm told some of these folks at other carriers were fired, it probably depended on how many F-16 drivers were in the chief pilot's office.

Here's a news article on this earlier case of license fraud:

U.S. Charges Cheating Plot at Air Base - New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/05/us/us-charges-cheating-plot-at-air-base.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm)

[Evanelpus]

So he is qualified as second in command on the A300, 747, 727, 737, 767, 707, 729, DC3, DC4, DC10, MD11 L1011 etc. etc, is 32 and has also qualified as an instructor.

This guy does not deserve jail time, he just needs a very good psychiatrist!

Not sure what a 729 is but I've flown all of these......on FS2004!

[Check Airman]

HOLDS AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT LICENSE WITH SINGLE AND MULTI-ENGINE LAND RATINGS, WITH SECOND IN COMMAND QUALIFICATIONS IN A300; A320; B707; B720; B727; B737; B747; B747-400; B757; B767; B777; BE300; CE500; DC-3; DC-4; DC-8; DC-10; EMB-145; L1011; L1329; MD-11 WITH COMMERCIAL PRIVILEDGES IN AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE SEA. CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WITH SINGLE ENGINE, MULTI-ENGINE AND INSTRUMENT RATINGS. GROUND INSTRUCTOR WITH ADVANCED AND INSTRUMENT RATINGS. FLIGHT ENGINEER LICENSE WITH TURBO JET POWERED RATING. SPORT PILOT INSTRUCTOR IN GLIDER; WEIGHT SHIFT CONTROL LAND; POWERED PARACHUTE.

I suppose with all those qualifications, he decided to leave off types like Concorde, since it is no longer in service...

[golfyankeesierra]

Note that he says "second in command qualification" i s o type rated. Perhaps in Colombia there is no need for a rating as F/O and while he holds an ATPL he reckons he is "qualified" after reading a (his own) manual of the type?

[ATC Watcher]

Reminds me of the film "Catch me if you can " The amazing thing is in the time it takes to actually catch the guy.

If I was the FAA administrator I would not procecute and send the guy to jail, but quietly hire him so that you can learn how he could fool everyone for so long , and ask him to build safegards in the system so that it can't happen again.

[Tinstaafl]

No. Jail the dishonest :mad: - his types make things more difficult for the rest of us. Instead, he gets a day out of jail for each day he helps with the above mentioned safeguards.

[Raffles S.A.]

He deserves jail time. A guy in South Africa back in the 80s wiped himself and 7 others out after renting a plane using forged instrument and type ratings.

[Molon Labe]

He needs serious penitentiary time in a U.S. maximum security facility....He will come to understand the error of his ways...And gain respect for earned titles for he will finally earn one in the pen...That of "punk"....

[classicpilot]

I flew with this clown on the A300, he was a second officer, flight engineer. He knew nothing about aviation. He use to try & pick up the ATIS at an airport that was nearly 600 nm away. After coming out of a maintenance check on the A300 in Hong Kong he did a walk around without checking the pitot tubes or static ports. He gave the aircraft the ok but we found problems, so we knew he had no experience. Of the few times I flew with him we had pressurization problems, electrical & fuel problems. I reported him to management & they sent him back for training, not sure what happened to him after that but I was told he was flying passengers for a commuter airline. Around 2006 we all needed SIC certificates for TradeWinds & I believe most US carriers flying overseas did so as well. With regards to his books he copied them from manuals & other aviation books on the market. He was 27 then & claimed to have over 7500 hours, he also told us he worked at Naples Air Center as an instructor but he was so stupid that he did not know we had a first officer flying with us who was an instructor there. He told us Munoz tried to get hired at NAC but for whatever reason they would not hire him.
Do not give this foolish, idiotic, retarded moron any credit, he deserves jail time & being banned from flying ever again. I was also told he tried to get on the 747 with Max Air but they found out he never flew the 747, so Munoz & 4 other honest crew were not hired because they held US licenses. These guys make it hard for crew trying to get hired worldwide.
The good news is that all his ratings & certificates have been suspended/revoked. Beware, their is many of them out there ruining the system for us all.

[classicpilot]

Here are links to some of this scammer's so called books. If you read them you will see they are excerpts of other people's books, maybe they should investigate him for copy write.

The Quick Guide for Your Aviation Glossary Terms, Definitions and Acronyms ... - Juan Pablo Munoz - Google Books (http://books.google.com.sa/books?id=rWui2XgAZ3kC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=juan+pablo+munoz+pilot&source=bl&ots=ynkZsU7AxP&sig=vtxijI27WJOd86oEn-3-BhQuGmg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=D3BlUO37HoW1hAfMloBY&ved=0CGMQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=juan%20pablo%20munoz%20pilot&f=false)

Search: "Juan Pablo Munoz" - Kobo (http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=%22Juan+Pablo+Munoz%22&t=none&f=author&p=1&s=averagerating&g=both)