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?(image from Van Aircraft Website)A man from Pomona, California, was arrested for suspicion of operating an unregistered aircraft while under the influence of methamphetamine.
The investigation was started by the FBI's LAX Joint Terrorism Task Force after a Van RV-12iS was stolen from the Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN) on Jan. 3, according to AvBrief. It was seen the next day at another airport in Kelso, Washington, where a couple driving a rented vehicle were suspected of having flown in the RV-12iS. The aircraft was eventually recovered at the Corona Municipal Airport (AJO) in California on Jan. 6. The transponder has been tampered with during the flight to hide its location.
The couple was connected to a second suspected aircraft theft at AJO on January 27. The aircraft had not been registered since 2017. 38-year-old Christian Estoque was seen by FBI agents on surveillance footage entering the aircraft and powering on the engine. The agents concluded he was attempting to steal the aircraft and took him into custody. He is not a registered pilot and admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine.
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Estoque was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and appeared before a federal magistrate on Jan. 29. He was released on bond but is being prosecuted. The FBI's LAX Joint Terrorism Task Force is conducting the ongoing investigation.