Olukayode Ojo, a 36-year-old Nigerian, is facing a five-year prison sentence in Texas after being convicted of falsifying information to obtain a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate.
Following his conviction on August 16, 2024, U.S. District Judge Jodi Dishman ordered Ojo’s detention pending sentencing.
U.S. Attorney Robert Troester announced the conviction on Monday through the FAA’s official website, noting that Ojo had sought a medical certificate needed for piloting a commercial aircraft, which led to his conviction.
The case was investigated by the Transportation Security Administration—Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson Eldridge and Matt Dillon.
Troester explained that on June 4, 2024, a federal jury indicted Ojo on two counts of making false statements.
Ojo was found guilty of these charges on August 16, 2024. Evidence revealed that Ojo, a certified commercial pilot, had previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in Kentucky on February 8, 2023, related to stealing passenger luggage at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
He subsequently provided false information to the FAA in March 2023 and March 2024 while applying for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate, which is required for flying commercial passenger planes.
Ojo faces up to five years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 per count.
