Matthew R. Molsen United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska
Tyler Caudill, a 22-year-old resident of Phillips, Nebraska, received a federal court sentence in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possessing a firearm while unlawfully using marijuana and THC. The sentence, handed down by United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis, includes 37 months of imprisonment, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. It is important to note that the federal prison system does not allow parole.
The series of events that led to Caudill's sentencing began on the morning of May 4, 2021. Authorities from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office were informed that Caudill had taken a pickup without permission, and an AR-15 style rifle belonging to his father was missing. Surveillance footage showed Caudill at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island, Nebraska, carrying several bags, including a rifle case. He managed to access a Cessna Citation Bravo aircraft parked on the tarmac, bringing along personal belongings, the AR-15 rifle, and ammunition.
Later that day, pilots discovered Caudill asleep on the aircraft, with the firearm in the cabin. They promptly removed his bags and the rifle before alerting the police. Grand Island police officers responded to the situation, and once Caudill awoke, he attempted to operate the plane’s controls. A tactical team intervened, utilizing chemical munitions to safely remove Caudill from the aircraft. An incoming flight from Dallas was diverted to Kansas due to the incident, but no injuries were reported.
Following his removal, Caudill was taken to a hospital where he admitted to marijuana and THC use. Testing confirmed THC presence in his system. Investigators also found THC vape cartridges on his person. Caudill claimed ownership of the firearm and expressed an intention to fly the plane to a bunker in Montana.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies, including the Grand Island Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
