In a press report late last week, Tennessee radio station WFHG 92.9 reported that Richard Harper of Apple International, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted aircraft parts fraud. This followed his arrest in January in Anaheim as he was heading to Heli-Expo. The article concludes by saying that Harper could face up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in October.
Back in February this year, the US Dept of Transport issued the following statement
On February 5, 2020, the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, indicted Richard Harper, a resident of the United Kingdom, for attempting aircraft parts fraud and wire fraud.
According to the indictment, Harper, the owner and operator of Apple International, Inc., devised and participated in a scheme to falsify and conceal a material fact involving an aircraft. He allegedly removed the data plates from one helicopter fuselage; affixed them to a different helicopter without documenting the repair in work orders or aircraft logbooks; and concealed these material facts when he presented the aircraft to FAA for airworthiness certification. Apple International, Inc., is a helicopter repair and sales facility in Bristol, Tennessee.
DOT-OIG and Homeland Security Investigations are conducting this investigation with substantial assistance from FAA.
Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com
Apple International, Civil, Legal, News, UK, US-Tennessee
