Acampo Skydiver Hit With Federal Wire Fraud, ID Theft Charges Over Unauthorized Tandem Instructor Courses
ACAMPO (CBS13) — A San Joaquin County skydiver is facing federal charges for allegedly running unauthorized tandem instructor courses.
On Tuesday, the US Attorney's Office announced a six-count indictment against 46-year-old Acampo resident Robert Allen Pooley.
Prosecutors allege that Pooley had been continuing to run tandem skydiving instructor courses after he had his rating pulled in 2015. Pooley is also suspected of concealing his suspension from the candidates he was teaching.
Pooley allegedly used a digital image of another properly rated tandem instructor to sign off on training he did.
Prosecutors say Pooley accepted several students from around the world in 2016. One of those students, who prosecutors say paid $1,000 to $1,600 each for the courses, fell to his death along with another person. The deaths prompted several of Pooley's students to try and get their money back, but prosecutors say he wouldn't repay them.
Back on June 10, a federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft to Pooley.
If convicted on those charges, prosecutors say Pooley would face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 for each count of wire fraud.