John Walker Cuffed for Conspiracy, Fraud, Money Laundering, Etc.

John Walker, former President and CEO of Hansen Helicopters, has been sentenced to nearly 34 years in federal prison on 110 criminal counts for crimes ranging from bribery to falsification of aircraft records. His crimes are tied to up to 30 crashes that claimed nine lives.

Walker has a long history with Hansen, purchasing the Guam-based company in 1998 after spending years working for it in various positions. He then expanded the operator’s fleet to nearly 50 aircraft, primarily vintage Hughes 369 helicopters used to spot tuna for boats in the Western Pacific. These contracts weren’t cheap, with each helicopter bringing in $40,000 per month.

Most of the cash went to Walker, who used it to expand his personal aircraft collection and fund several strange hobbies. In the meantime, he purchased counterfeit aircraft components and used data plate swapping from scrapped airframes to build a fleet of “Frankenstein”-like helicopters under the Hansen name. He further covered his tracks by registering the rotorcraft to international shell companies.

The US government claims that these actions were partly to blame for up to 30 helicopter crashes that left nine dead. Walker, along with much of the Hansen Helicopters executive team, its suppliers, and the FAA inspector they bribed, was indicted back in 2018 for his crimes.

Walker was placed in custody in September 2022 after being found guilty of aircraft parts fraud, bribery, money laundering, falsification of aircraft records, and employment of unlicensed pilots and mechanics by a Guam District Court. He has remained locked up since this date, which will be subtracted from his formal charge.

On June 10, District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood sentenced the now 60-year-old Walker to 33 years and nine months on 110 criminal counts. The former CEO was also slapped with a $250,000 fine, ordered to serve 3 extra years of supervised release, and forced to forfeit all assets related to the case. The worth of his holdings, including thousands of acres of farmland and multiple aircraft, is around $58 million. 

FMI: www.gud.uscourts.gov