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Investigations

Date

Former California Pilot Convicted and Sentenced for Lying to FAA

On July 28, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California convicted and sentenced Walker Grant to 36 months’ probation, a $500 fine, and a $50 special assessment. Grant, a former pilot, pleaded guilty to making false statements about his veteran’s benefits on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman medical certification forms. FAA uses the airman medical certification process to evaluate whether pilots are mentally and physically fit to fly.
 
The investigation revealed that Grant submitted falsified medical records to FAA in order to obtain his airman medical certificates. He falsely stated on both applications that he had never been diagnosed with and did not then or previously have a mental disorder of any sort. He also denied the existence of medical conditions for which he was receiving disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In April 2020, FAA revoked Grant’s airman’s certificate.
 
DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with VA-OIG.