A pilot and entrepreneur who became “internet famous” for documenting his flying adventures on Facebook and Instagram is now facing multiple counts of insurance fraud.
Prosecutors say that Theodore Robert Wright III, 32, has been involved in the destruction of multiple vehicles, all of which were destroyed in order to collect insurance money.
In 2012, Wright gained notoriety when he ditched his Beech Baron airplane in the Gulf of Mexico. He shot video of the event on his iPad, making national news, according to a report by
Flying.com. However, when Wright made a promotional video for a waterproof case that protected the iPad in the crash, authorities began to scrutinize the incident. Prosecutors say that Wright intentionally ditched the plane in deep water in order to collect an insurance payout of $85,000 – nearly double what he’d paid for the plane.
Prosecutors also allege that Wright was involved in the destruction of a 1971 Cessna Citation, a Lamborghini Gallardo and a luxury sailboat. Also charged in the fraud were Shane Gordon of Texas, Edward Delima of Hawaii and Raymond Fosdick of South Carolina, Flying.com reported. Wright and Gordon are the listed owners and managers of multiple corporations that were used to launder money from the fraud, according to prosecutors.
Each of the alleged conspirators is looking at up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy and wire fraud, five to 20 years and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to violate the Constitution and arson of property used in interstate commerce, as well as 10 years and a $250,000 fine for use of fire to commit a felony, according to Flying.com.
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