Flying Tiger’s Jay Stout Sentenced to five years in prison

Jay Stout, of Harrisburg, Pa., president of the now defunct Flying Tigers, has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia to 60 months incarceration; 36 months of supervised release; $503,340 in restitution to airplane owners; and a $2,000 fine. Additionally, Flying Tigers was sentenced to 12 months of probation, and was ordered to cease any further operation.

AIN reported last April that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict and convicted Jay Stout and Flying Tigers after a nine-day trial in Philadelphia. The jury found Stout guilty of conspiracy, fraud involving aircraft parts, mail fraud and obstruction of justice. The jury convicted the company on all charges. Howard Gunter, a former FAA certified mechanic and inspector; Jay Stout; and Flying Tigers were charged with various crimes for their role in the conspiracy to conduct illicit aircraft repairs and fraudulent aircraft inspections at its Marietta, Pa.-based operation. Gunter died of natural causes before trial. Joel Stout, Jay’s son and an employee at Flying Tigers, was also charged in connection with the scheme and subsequently pleaded guilty.