Story ID: 
AeroVanti CEO Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Government alleges misappropriation of funds
Word Count: 260
Already facing a bevy of civil fraud lawsuits from unhappy customers, AeroVanti CEO Patrick Britton-Harr has been indicted for criminal wire fraud in Federal District Court for the District of Maryland. The six-count indictment alleges that Britton-Harr misappropriated nearly $15 million from almost 100 “Top Gun” members who paid $150,000 each. These funds were supposed to be used to purchase or lease five Piaggio P.180 turboprop twins, and entitled each member to 100 prepaid flight hours.
However, the U.S. government alleges that, between April and October 2022, Britton-Harr diverted $14,750,000 of AeroVanti’s escrowed member funds to personal bank accounts controlled by himself and/or his wife. According to the indictment, the funds were used in part to purchase $65,000 worth of jewelry; boats worth $80,000, $125,000, and $306,000; and $30,000 for rent at several properties in Florida. Altogether, more than 28 transfers were involved, with several over $1 million each, the indictment claims.
In addition to misappropriation, the government alleges that Britton-Harr “attempted to conceal his scheme by borrowing additional funds to purchase aircraft that he already falsely claimed to have purchased with Top Gun unit holder funds.” It claims he obtained $1.5 million from AeroVanti investors to purchase an aircraft already in its fleet that was in the process of being repossessed.
AeroVanti, based in Maryland with operations in Florida, launched in 2021 and obtained $9.75 million in financing in 2022, operating under FAA Part 91F.
Britton-Harr is currently free on $100,000 bond. He is additionally facing federal civil charges related to 24,000 false Medicare claims allegedly billed by Provista Health, another one of his companies.