Skydiving Instructor Jailed After 28 Deaths at Parachuting School
A skydiving instructor has been sentenced to prison after deaths at a parachuting school exposed rampant fraud.
Robert Allen Pooley, 49, was sentenced to two years in prison Monday following a wire fraud conviction relating to his skydiving activities in Lodi, California, according to the Department of Justice.
Pooley first earned a tandem examiner rating in 2010 with the U.S. Parachute Association and Uninsured United Parachute Technologies. Shortly after, he began teaching training courses for people seeking skydiving ratings and certifications.
Pooley’s examiner ratings were suspended by the USPA and UPT in August 2015.
Despite no longer holding the valid certificates, however, Pooley continued to to lead classes as an examiner.
Pooley lied to candidates and failed to tell them about his professional suspensions. He continued to charge students roughly $1,100 for the courses, as he had done when legitimately certified. …