Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years for Interstate Avionics Theft Scheme Spanning More Than 40 Airports

A repeat federal offender has been sentenced to the statutory maximum of 10 years in federal prison after executing a multi-state avionics theft operation that targeted aircraft at more than forty airports across the United States.

Mario Mercier Hernandez, 61, of New Port Richey, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle after previously pleading guilty on July 25, 2025, to interstate transportation of stolen property. The case was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

According to court filings and sentencing records, Hernandez began the scheme around 2019. Using his credentials as an FAA-certified pilot, he gained access to general aviation airports in multiple states, including Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey, Maryland, South Carolina, and others. Investigators determined that he entered secured airport environments, broke into privately owned aircraft, and removed high-value avionics components.

Avionics systems—such as GPS navigation units, transponders, digital flight displays, and communication modules—are critical flight safety components. These systems often carry significant resale value due to their specialized nature and certification requirements. Federal investigators calculated total losses exceeding $1.1 million.

The theft activity continued until May 23, 2024, when Hernandez was apprehended while actively stealing equipment from aircraft at Caldwell Executive Airport in Caldwell, Idaho. His arrest marked the culmination of a coordinated, multi-jurisdictional investigation.

Hernandez owned and operated two entities in the Middle District of Florida—JWG International and JWG Aviation. The companies were presented publicly as charitable operations providing humanitarian assistance to children in Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine. Investigators determined that these businesses were used as fronts to facilitate the sale of stolen avionics equipment through online marketplaces to buyers across the United States who were unaware the equipment had been unlawfully obtained.

This was not Hernandez’s first conviction involving aviation-related theft.

Federal records show that in 1993, he was convicted in the Eastern District of Texas for a series of avionics burglaries spanning Texas, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Vermont. In 2007, he was again convicted in the Middle District of Florida for transportation of stolen property tied to a similar avionics theft and resale operation.

The court’s imposition of the statutory maximum sentence reflects both the scale of the scheme and Hernandez’s prior federal convictions.

“This investigation spanned multiple states and involved numerous agencies,” said United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Clearly, it demonstrates the ability and resolve of our law enforcement partners to extend their reach and bring criminals to justice.”

Greg Thompson, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Mid-Atlantic Region, stated that the sentencing underscores the seriousness of organized theft targeting aviation infrastructure and safety-critical systems.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies across more than twenty states. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Schmidt.

The federal conviction closes a multi-year operation that disrupted a repeat offender’s exploitation of general aviation facilities and interstate resale networks. The sentence ensures extended incapacitation and reinforces federal enforcement priorities involving transportation system integrity and aviation security.

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