Summary

On April 1, 2016, Ricardo Amador Ballesteros-Garcia, a.k.a. Alejandro Alvarez-Abreu, was sentenced to 87 months incarceration in U.S. District Court, Miami, FL, for making false statements to DOT-OIG, FAA, and DHS. Ballesteros-Garcia was also convicted of making false statements to a financial institution and was ordered to pay $332,000 in restitution.

On May 3, 2012, Ballesteros-Garcia, a native of Cuba, was indicted on charges of operating an aircraft without a valid FAA airman certificate, and making false statements to several law enforcement and Government officials as to his true identity. He was also charged with conspiracy and bank fraud in an unrelated large-scale mortgage fraud scheme. Ballesteros-Garcia fled after charges were filed against him. He was apprehended on May 29, 2015, at his Miami Beach condominium after a tip alerted law enforcement to his presence.

In May 2007, Ballesteros-Garcia operated a U.S. registered aircraft as an airman private pilot, and landed the aircraft at a private airstrip in Miami, FL. When questioned by DHS Special Agents, he falsely identified himself as Alejandro Alvarez-Abreu. Subsequently, Ballesteros-Garcia reported, in person, to FAA’s local office and falsely identified himself as Alvarez-Abreu. Almost 1 year later, in April 2008, Ballesteros-Garcia was questioned by a DOT-OIG agent and again falsely identified himself as Alvarez-Abreu.

This investigation revealed through fingerprint and photographic analysis that Alvarez Abreu is a fraudulent identity of Ballesteros Garcia.

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation jointly with Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from FAA.