Pilots accused of embezzling nearly $800,000 from John Travolta-led company

A St. Cloud pilot accused of scamming a local aviation company out of nearly $800,000 is being held without bail at the Marion County Jail as detectives search for his alleged accomplice, also a pilot.

Jean Paul Lacruz-Romero was arrested in Osceola County on March 11 after a local judge signed a warrant for his arrest.

Lacruz-Romero arrived at the Marion jail on March 15 and was booked at 2:10 p.m. He's charged with organized fraud over $50,000, grand theft over $100,000, and money laundering over $100,000.

He appeared in front of a judge on Saturday and was denied bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for April.

Marion County Sheriff's detectives said they're searching for Jorden David Coursey, 37, of Haberhill, a town in Palm Beach County. He will face similar charges.

Locally, neither man has a criminal history, according to records.

Ongoing investigation

The address for Constellation Productions, the business reportedly ripped off by Lacruz-Romero and Coursey, is in Jumbolair Aviation Estates. Constellation has a fleet of aircraft and both men were employed by the company as pilots, according to a sheriff's office report. The pilots have since been fired, according to Lacruz-Romero's arrest report.

According to a record on file with the Florida Division of Corporations, John Travolta is the president of Constellation Productions. A representative from the company declined comment due to the ongoing investigation.

Jumbolair is an upscale aviation community in Anthony, north of Ocala. Travolta is a longtime Jumbolair resident.

How the investigation began

Detective Nicholas Austin, the investigator assigned to the case, wrote in his report that he met with an employee at Constellation Productions in late December concerning a possible fraud. The employee was concerned about the price the company was paying for fuel.

Coursey and Lacruz-Romero were questioned about the fuel prices and the men "provided excuses for the increased cost," the report notes.

A forensic examination was ordered by officials at Constellation Productions to determine if the men were being truthful.

The employee who made the report told law enforcement officials that when Coursey and Lacruz-Romero flew and landed at an airport, they were responsible for refueling and purchasing supplies needed for the next flight. The pilots would use a company-issued American Express card for the expenses. The expenses would later be reviewed by company officials, according to the report.

Coursey and Lacruz-Romero initially used the American Express card for business expenses. In October 2021, "fuel and expenses" were bought from a company name Lux Fuels, LLC, officials said. Asked about Lux Fuels, LLC, Coursey and Lacruz-Romero told Constellation officials it was a "discount fuel company."

However, checking the records for Lux Fuels, LLC, it was discovered the registered agent was Lacruz-Romero's wife, and the business was incorporated in late September 2021, the report states.

Follow the money

The detective spoke with an official at Constellation Productions and was told Coursey and Lacruz-Romero had fuel cards issued by World Fuel to Lux Fuels. The pilots used the cards to buy fuel and supplies and would charge their former employer's American Express card for the fuel cost. "Lux Fuels allegedly paid for the fuel and supplies," sheriff's officials said.

After processing the American Express card, officials at Lux Fuels would send their invoice to Constellation Productions finance company in California, which paid the balance, authorities said.

The detective was told invoices sent from Lux Fuels "were intentionally inflated," the report states.

Reviewing the forensic document prepared by Nigro, Karlin, Segal & Feldstein, certified public accountants, the detective said it confirmed Constellation Productions officials' suspicions of the fired pilots. The inflated charges reportedly made by the men to Constellation Productions amounted to $785,050, according to the detective's report. The report mentions that Coursey and Lacruz-Romero charged what's described as an "administrative fee" on all Lux Fuels, LLC invoices issued to Constellation Productions.

The cost for conducting the forensic examination was $64,650, and that amount was paid by Constellation Productions, the detective said in the report.

More information about the case

From records obtained by the detective, it's believed a Cessna plane, which cost $30,000, was purchased by JPL Aviation LLC. The money was withdrawn three days before the aircraft was registered to JPL Aviation LLC.

Before the withdrawal, the detective said in the report, JPL Aviation LLC already had received $51,933.18 "in fraudulent funds, giving probable cause to believe the aircraft was purchased with fraudulent funds."

Records show the JPL Aviation LLC account list Lacruz-Romero as the manager of the account. The same account had received $382,166.05 in transfers from Lux Fuels, LLC, the detective said in his report.

Detectives said Lacruz-Romero's wife is presently not facing any charges in this case.

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Coursey received $305,231.34 and it "represents approximately half of the funds indicated in the report of findings as fraudulent and appears to be a 'partner distribution,' " the detective's report states.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 2 pilots accused of misappropriating $800K from John Travolta-led company