Roger B. Handberg, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
A Bradenton man, Ernesto Cordero, has pleaded guilty to operating a helicopter without the necessary airman certificate. Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announced that Cordero, aged 54, faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison. The date for sentencing has not been determined.
The plea agreement revealed that Cordero held a student pilot’s license. This license permitted him to operate his personal helicopter with an instructor or fly solo under specific conditions but did not allow carrying passengers. Despite this restriction, Cordero frequently flew with passengers without obtaining a full pilot’s license.
In June 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received a complaint after Cordero landed his helicopter at Egmont Key State Park near Tampa. A passenger disembarked and later returned to the aircraft during this incident. The following month, another complaint was lodged about Cordero flying others from a dock behind a home in Marathon. Subsequent investigations revealed that his helicopter had landed at Tampa Executive Airport, where he admitted to flying with a passenger onboard.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FAA and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.
