Waterloo Man Charged with Making False Statements to the FAA
False Statements Alleged in Relation to an Application for an Instrument-Rated Pilot’s License
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 16, 2012 |
DES MOINES, IA—Fahad Nabeel Hussein Al-Daous, from Waterloo, Iowa, appeared in federal court in Des Moines today for an initial appearance and arraignment on two counts of making false statements to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The charges are contained in an indictment filed on January 24, 2012, in United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
The indictment alleges that on Airman Certificate and/or Rating Applications submitted on May 21, 2011, and May 27, 2011, Al-Daous falsely inflated the number of pilot in command flight hours and cross country flight hours he had completed. Each charge carries a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, $100 in special assessments, and three years of supervised release.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Al-Daous has dual citizenship with Saudi Arabia, and was ordered to surrender his passport as one of the conditions of being release. Trial has been scheduled for the two-week trial setting commencing on April 2, 2012.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.