Father Convicted of Airplane Repair Fraud After Son Testifies Against Him
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Lancaster County, Pa. man was convicted today in federal court after his son testified against him in a case of airplane inspection and repair fraud.
Jay Stout, 54, and his now-defunct"Flying Tigers" company, based at the Donegal Springs Airport, were found guilty by a federal jury in Philadelphia of cheating customers and endangering lives.
Prosecution witness Joel Stout, the son, had previously admitted that he was in on the fraud, which he testified was led by his father (see previous story).
Prosecutor Arlene Fisk says owners of small, private airplanes paid for repairs and annual inspections that were supposed to be performed by certified personnel:
"The bottom line is the airplane safety and the safety of all the airplane owners who were utilizing Flying Tigers throughout the period of this conspiracy, from 2003 to 2010, were serously endangered because there were not certified mechanics doing the work they expected were being done."
Jay Stout was also convicted of obstruction of justice. The jury found that he ripped out logbook pages and replaced fraudulent entries in an effort to block federal investigators.
Both Stouts, father and son, are now awaiting sentencing.
