A 36-year-old Nigerian pilot based in Dallas, Texas, Olukayode Aduragbenro Ojo, has been found guilty by a U.S. federal jury on two counts of making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These statements were made to secure a medical certificate required for piloting commercial passenger aircraft.
U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced Ojo’s conviction on August 16, 2024, in a statement published on the official U.S. government website. The conviction follows charges brought against Ojo on June 4, 2024, when a federal grand jury issued a Superseding Indictment accusing him of providing false information.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Ojo, a licensed commercial pilot by the FAA, had previously pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor theft charges on February 8, 2023. These charges were related to the theft of passenger luggage at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, as per records from a Kentucky state court.
In March 2023 and again in March 2024, Ojo provided false information to the FAA while applying for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate, attempting to conceal his prior criminal convictions. This medical certificate is a critical requirement for pilots who wish to fly commercial passenger aircraft.
Following his conviction, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman ordered Ojo to remain in custody until his sentencing. The Nigerian-American pilot now faces a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 per count.
The case was investigated by the Transportation Security Administration–Investigations, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson Eldridge and Matt Dillon are leading the prosecution.
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