Brian Keith Kapileo Nepaial, a 38-year-old resident of Aloha, Oregon, has been charged with pointing a laser at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Court documents state that on October 3, 2025, a CBP helicopter was hit by a green laser while in flight, forcing the crew to abort their planned landing. The crew saw an individual walking near a residence before disappearing from view. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) later identified the location and executed a federal search warrant on October 10, 2025. During the search, agents found a laser device in Nepaial’s bedroom along with more than 100 grams of methamphetamine and evidence suggesting drug trafficking.
Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has brought charges against 34 individuals for various federal crimes related to incidents at the ICE building. These offenses include assaulting federal officers, failure to comply with orders, and damaging government property.
“Laser strikes are a serious matter with potentially deadly repercussions. They put the lives of the pilots and the public at risk. Aiming or pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime and will be prosecuted,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Nepaial is currently being held in Washington County on an unrelated parole violation.
If convicted, aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute can result in up to forty years in prison.
The FBI is leading the investigation into this case, which is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
It should be noted that criminal complaints are accusations only; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
