MIAMI, Florida – A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida has indicted a Miramar man on charges that he ran a multi-year aviation parts fraud and investor scheme that cost victims more than $1 million, according to court records.
The indictment charges 45-year-old Alain R. Ruiz, also known as “Alan Ruiz,” with fraud involving aircraft parts, wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering-related counts. Prosecutors say the scheme relied on forged Federal Aviation Administration certifications and fabricated military purchase orders. An indictment is an accusation, and Ruiz is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What investigators say Ruiz did
Court records say Ruiz owned and operated Premier Aviation Sales, Inc. and Capital Aviation Sales, Inc. The companies presented themselves as brokers and repairers of aviation components.
Investigators contend Ruiz asked people for money by claiming he had access to lucrative government contracts, foreign-military purchase orders and specialized aircraft parts. Those parts included components for the Northrop F-5 Tiger II.
To persuade victims to wire money to accounts he controlled, investigators say, Ruiz used fraudulent FAA Form 8130-3 Airworthiness Approval Tags, forged documents and fabricated aircraft-part traceability records.
Prosecutors also say Ruiz used money from later investors to pay earlier investors, and diverted other funds to personal expenses.
Charges and possible penalties
Ruiz faces two counts of fraud involving aircraft parts, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy count and on each wire fraud count. Each count of aircraft parts fraud and each money laundering-related count carries up to 10 years.
Agencies involved
Acting U.S. Attorney Yara Lorenzo Klukas for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Nakia M. Alexander of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office, announced the charges. DCIS is the investigative arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General.
DCIS is investigating the case with help from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation’s Bureau of Financial Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam M. Love is prosecuting the case.
The source did not say when Ruiz would make his first court appearance or whether he had an attorney.