Investigations

On March 28, 2012, in U.S. District Court, Miami, Florida, a multi-count indictment was filed against Rangel Fernandez (president), Ivan Fernandez (vice-president), Jerry Frystak (general manager) , Dennis Romero (quality inspector), Lisbet Gonzalez (office manager), Luis Balarezo, Saul Hernandez, Hermes Reyes, Pedro Leon, Aileen Bermudez, Geovanni Hernandez, and Francisca Diaz, employees of Aircraft Transparencies Repair Inc. (ATR) and Transparencies Engineering Group Inc. (TEG).  They were charged with conspiracy to sell and falsely certify to commercial aviation customers the airworthiness of aircraft cockpit windows using Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Form 8130-3 Authorized Release Certificates (FAA Form 8130-3s), works orders, and traceability documentation knowing that they were not authorized by the FAA to certify the airworthiness of these windows.              

The investigation revealed that from approximately August 2009 to August 2010, ATR's employees continued repairing aircraft cockpit windows despite having its repair station certificate revoked in July 2009.  As part of the scheme, Rangel Fernandez purchased "as removed" aircraft cockpit windows in the open market and backdated numerous FAA Form 8130-3s, work orders, and traceability documentation, to make it appear to the customer that the windows had been retrieved from ATR or TEG's inventory prior to ATR's repair station certificate revocation.  Additionally, serial numbers on the windows that had been sent to ATR by its customers were changed to disguise the source of the windows and to further make it appear that all work had been performed prior to the repair station revocation.               

This investigation is being worked jointly with the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with substantial assistance from FAA. 

Note:  Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government.  All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.