Summary

On January 13, 2016, Gilbert Wiles Jr. and Scott Lewis were charged in U.S. District Court, Cheyenne, Wyoming, with conspiracy, operating an unregistered aircraft and forfeiture.

The indictment alleges that in 2013 and 2014, Lewis and Wiles conspired to operate an unregistered aircraft, specifically a Cessna 206 airplane bearing the tail number N6214V. On February 27, 2014, Lewis and Wiles flew the Cessna 206 airplane and landed at the Yellowstone Airport in Cody, Wyoming.

The aircraft was operated by Lewis with Wiles as the front-seat passenger. The investigation disclosed that in April 2013, the aircraft was purchased by Wiles in Austin, Texas, for approximately $130,000 in cash.

Lewis provided an alias of Ken Howard to the Yellowstone Airport personnel and was found with three purported Idaho drivers’ licenses and a Colorado driver’s license, all in different names.

Lewis has been a licensed aircraft pilot since 2010 and Wiles a licensed aircraft pilot and a flight instructor since 2000.

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