A 36-year-old California man has been indicted by a grand jury in Los Angeles U.S. District Court for operating private jets, first without proper certification, and then, after losing his pilot’s license. Arnold Leto III had his license revoked by the FAA in January, on charges that among other offenses, he operated a Cessna 550 Citation II without a type rating from Santa Monica to Phoenix in January 2015. He failed to surrender his license. As recently as April 8, he was the sole pilot of a Dassault Falcon 10, which requires a copilot to operate. The aircraft, N720DF, is registered to Connecticut-based Maule Group and Leto flew it from Van Nuys to Las Vegas with eight passengers on board, said the authorities. According to the government complaint, Leto's Aviation Financial Services accepted payment for flights even though the company did not posess an air carrier or commerial operator certificate.

Leto was arrested on April 27 by special agents from the Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General, and released on $10,000 bond. “Federal regulations governing the operation of aircraft and other common carriers are designed to protect the traveling public,” said U.S. attorney Eileen Decker. “The investigation into Mr. Leto shows that he flagrantly violated these rules, and continued to do so after the FAA took action to take him out of the air.”

At his May 24 arraignment, Leto entered a not-guilty plea to the charges. He is scheduled for trial on July 12. According to prosecutors, he could serve up to six years in prison if convicted.