Story ID: 
Settlement Reached in Hansen Helicopters Case
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: Agreement enjoins civil defendants from illegal activities for which Hansen was convicted
Word Count: 230
In the ongoing United States v. Hansen Helicopters case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam has entered into a global settlement agreement with defendants associated with Pacific Spotters Corporation (PSC).
According to the office, the defendants agreed to “termination of any relationships with named criminal defendants in United States v. Hansen Helicopter, Inc., et al., No. 18-CR-00010, and the companies named as alter egos in Civil Case No. 23-CV-00002.” The agreement included “disposition of aircraft and aircraft business operations…and…a provision of information/cooperation.”
The defendants include Cherry Anne Espion, director, corporate secretary, and treasurer of PSC; Oswald Espion, chairman of the board and president of PSC; and Antonio S. Padua and Robert Dodd Plew, directors of PSC.
“This agreement ensures these civil defendants are permanently enjoined from ever illegally operating or continuing the scheme for which Hansen Helicopters and John Walker were convicted,” the office said. “It follows additional plea agreements by other named criminal defendants.”
In September 2022, a Guam federal district court jury found Hansen Helicopters and its CEO, John D. Walker, guilty on 110 counts related to (among other things) conspiracy, defrauding the FAA and the NTSB, bribery, aircraft parts fraud, causing serious bodily injury and death, and falsification of aircraft registration. A sentencing hearing for Walker is set for May 5.