Ozark man found selling fake aircraft inspection labels

An Ozark man pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to creating and selling false aircraft inspection labels, a plea that could send him to federal prison for up to 10 years, according to a news release from Beth Phillips, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Joseph Fisk, 58, owner of Ozark-based Air & Marine Radio LLC, 539 Avionics Ave., pleaded guilty to the charges contained in a July indictment.

Fisk admitted that from March through September 2009, he created fraudulent Federal Aviation Administration inspection labels, those that represented a satisfactory annual or 100-hour inspection of an aircraft. The labels also contained the forged signature of James Probst, who holds an FAA Inspection Authorization certificate.

In the plea, Fisk said he used the labels on 10 to 12 aircraft and also sold the labels to multiple parties for $100 apiece.

The FAA requires annual or 100-hour inspection to be performed on aircrafts to ensure the safety of the flying public. The false labels violated the rule and bypassed the necessary safety inspection process.

Federal statutes dictate that Fisk is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole and a fine of up to $250,000.

A sentencing hearing will follow completion of the presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

Fisk pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge James England. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robyn L. McKee and was investigated by the FAA, the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General and the FBI.[[In-content Ad]]