News Summary

Jared Michael Swensen, a 48-year-old from Ventura, faces multiple federal fraud charges related to his business, Light Helicopter Depot, for selling aircraft parts misrepresented as new. Allegedly operating from 2020 to 2023, he faces severe penalties if convicted. The investigation revealed significant discrepancies in the claims about the service history of critical helicopter components, heightening safety concerns in the aviation industry.

California – Jared Michael Swensen, a 48-year-old resident of Ventura, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple counts of fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The indictment comprises ten counts, including two counts of wire fraud and eight counts of fraud involving aircraft parts. Swensen has been accused of operating a fraudulent business, Light Helicopter Depot, out of the Oxnard Airport, where he allegedly sold aircraft parts that were at the end of their service life while misrepresenting them as new or in excellent condition.

Federal prosecutors allege that the fraudulent activities took place from April 2020 to August 2023. They contend that Swensen made significant modifications to records and attempted to deceive customers about the condition and age of various critical helicopter parts, including main rotor blades. The indictment highlights that Swensen claimed that the main rotor blades had only 215.2 hours of service but they actually had at least 2,108 hours. Another example involves a clutch actuator, which was claimed to have zero hours of service despite actual usage being at least 1,240 hours. Such discrepancies could potentially lead to catastrophic failures in the machinery, increasing the risk of helicopter crashes.

If convicted, Swensen faces substantial legal repercussions. The maximum sentence for each count of wire fraud could be up to 20 years, while each count of aircraft parts fraud could carry a maximum sentence of 15 years. Additionally, Swensen’s company, Light Helicopter Depot, might incur financial penalties as high as $10 million for each aircraft parts fraud charge and up to $1 million for each count of wire fraud.

The investigation into Swensen’s activities was conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Authorities assert that there were falsified entries in maintenance logbooks and alterations in sales orders and packing slips to misrepresent the service history of parts. Swensen’s business marketed its services as FAA-certified, claiming inspection and maintenance authorization, which allegedly further misled customers about the quality and safety of the parts purchased.

Customers of Light Helicopter Depot reportedly paid significant amounts for maintenance services, with bills reaching as high as $23,700 for replacement parts that were falsely presented as being in pristine condition. Such practices not only risked financial loss for customers but also posed serious safety risks, especially in an industry where malfunctioning parts can lead to dire consequences.

The case has drawn attention not only due to the nature of the allegations but also because of the potential implications for public safety in aviation. With aircraft parts, especially critical components, being sold under false pretenses, the FAA and other regulatory bodies are under increasing pressure to ensure that similar fraudulent activities are detected and prosecuted swiftly.

Swensen’s legal case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis Mitchell and Danbee Kim, who are part of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section. As the investigation continues, the ramifications of this indictment could extend beyond Swensen and his business, impacting the broader aviation industry and raising a spotlight on the importance of regulatory compliance in maintaining safety standards.

The allegations against Swensen and Light Helicopter Depot serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of fraud in the aviation sector, underscoring the need for vigilance from regulatory agencies and consumers alike.