Jury Finds AeroVanti’s Britton-Harr Guilty of Wire Fraud

Following his indictment last year on federal fraud charges, Patrick Britton-Harr has been found guilty of six counts of wire fraud related to the failed AeroVanti private flying club. A federal jury found that Britton-Harr “defrauded customers by making false promises about how he planned to use their money.” He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years per count in federal prison and is also set for trial in October for a Medicare fraud scheme.

During the trial, evidence showed that Britton-Harr and AeroVanti offered “Top Gun” members block discounted flight hours in Piaggio P.180 Avanti turboprop twins for $150,000, which was to be used to buy aircraft. Top Gun members paid about $15 million, but Britton-Harr never bought any aircraft and instead used the money to buy yachts and jewelry and to fund living expenses.

“Evidence at trial further established that Britton-Harr then attempted to conceal his fraud by obtaining a $1.5 million loan to purchase one of the aircraft he already claimed that he purchased with Top Gun member funds by withholding material information from the lender to obtain the loan,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

“This conviction sends a strong message that if you scam and defraud others, we’re coming after you with the full weight of the law,” said Kelly Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.