Investigations

On June 8, 2020, Richard “Stassin” Sexton was indicted by a grand jury in the State of Tennessee Criminal Court in Rutherford County for multiple counts of operating an aircraft without a license, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and criminal impersonation for impersonating a licensed professional. The indictment alleged that Sexton illegally operated an aircraft in Rutherford County, Tennessee, on September 8, September 9, and October 1, 2019.

 

The investigation alleged that Sexton, although having his student pilot’s license suspended in June 2019, operated an aircraft on the above listed dates with a passenger on board. Sexton allegedly did not have a private pilot’s license to operate the aircraft with passengers on board, and he failed to obtain a complex aircraft endorsement for the aircraft as required. Further, the aircraft Sexton operated was allegedly not airworthy, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and mechanics who worked on the aircraft.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigation Division and with substantial assistance from FAA.

 

Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.