Greenwood County Man Pleads No Contest to Fraud Involving Aircraft Parts

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that Jerry Roy Comeaux, age 67, of Ninety-Six, South Carolina, pled no contest to a felony charge of fraud involving aircraft parts, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 38. United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., of Greenville, accepted the plea and ordered Comeaux to pay the victims restitution of approximately $403,000. Comeaux is to serve three years probation. The United States agreed to dismiss charges against Vicky Comeaux, age 54, as part of the agreement.

According to facts presented in court, Comeaux operated Quality Aircraft Support, a business that repaired and overhauled aircraft parts. Comeaux was licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a repair station up until April 2006. At that time, he voluntarily surrendered his license; however, he continued to send out parts with fraudulent forms that gave the appearance that Quality Aircraft Support was licensed by the FAA. These parts were shipped to various commercial carriers in Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and other parts of the country.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Winston D. Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.