Investigations

On April 6, 2006, Roy Gerherd Horridge, owner/operator of the Houston-based air ambulance service, B & C Flight Management, Inc. (B & C), and William Michael Sexton, a former aircraft mechanic for B & C, were indicted on 12 counts of conspiracy to commit aircraft parts fraud, nine counts of aircraft parts fraud, bank fraud, aiding and abetting, and forfeiture. The indictment alleges that, from January 1998 through August 2004, Horridge and Sexton conspired to submit false writings; specifically inaccurate aircraft log book entries regarding inspections and maintenance. The indictment also alleges that B & C attempted to avoid aircraft maintenance, because of the cost and lengthy required down-time for the aircraft. The FAA conducted an investigation in 2004 and subsequently revoked B & C’s operating certificate and grounded the fleet because the aircrafts were not airworthy. The investigation was conducted jointly with the FAA, the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection. Note: The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.