Summary

On September 23, 2014, Hal Tom, Jr. was indicted in U.S. District Court, Oxford, Mississippi, for knowingly and willfully operating an aircraft in air transportation without a valid airman's certificate. 

On June 27, and June 28, 2013, Tom acted as Pilot in Command of a Cessna 182 Light Airplane on a flight from Texas to New Jersey. During the flight, Tom ran out of fuel and the aircraft incurred damage to the right wing during an emergency off airport landing in Clarksdale, Mississippi. After refueling the airplane with improper fuel, Tom continued the flight to New Jersey with a damaged right wing. Tom did not have a valid airman certificate at the time of this flight because it had been revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for making false statements regarding an alcohol related offense.    

We are conducting this investigation with assistance from the FAA.

Note:  Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government.  All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.