Investigations

On May 3, 2023, following a 2-week trial, Debra Lynn Mercer-Erwin was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas for conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud, conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States. Mercer-Erwin was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit aircraft registration and export violations.

 

Mercer-Erwin was the owner of Wright Brothers Aircraft Title Company and Aircraft Guaranty Holdings Corporation, both based in Oklahoma. In September 2020, Mercer-Erwin and a co-conspirator were indicted for conspiracy to commit aircraft registration violations, money laundering, and export violations. They were also indicted for manufacturing and distributing cocaine and conspiracy to do so.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security.