The FBI arrested 38-year-old Christian Estoque of Pomona and charged him with operating an unregistered aircraft after investigators say he stole a single-engine plane from Auburn Municipal Airport on Jan. 3 and recovered it in Corona, Calif., on Jan. 6. Authorities allege the plane's transponder was tampered with to hide its movements and that eyewitnesses saw Estoque near the aircraft in Kelso, Wash. On Jan. 27, FBI agents caught him attempting to start a second plane; the complaint says he admitted being under the influence of methamphetamine while operating the aircraft. Estoque was released on bond and the investigation is ongoing.
Pomona Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Plane While High on Meth, Caught Trying to Take Second Aircraft
A photo of the suspect near a planeFBI Los Angeles
Federal authorities say a 38-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a small airplane while under the influence of methamphetamine and attempting to take a second aircraft days later.
Who: Christian Estoque, 38, of Pomona, California.
Case Details
The FBI in Los Angeles announced in a Jan. 30 news release that Estoque was charged with operating an unregistered aircraft at municipal airports. A federal criminal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Jan. 28.
According to the complaint, the sequence began when the owner of a single-engine airplane reported it stolen from Auburn Municipal Airport in Washington on Jan. 3. Investigators located the same airplane three days later, on Jan. 6, at Corona Municipal Airport in Corona, California.
Corona police found evidence that the aircraft's transponder had been tampered with during the flight. Authorities say the device was likely altered to disguise the plane's movements over a three-day period.
A photo of the suspectFBI Los Angeles
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the airplane at an airport in Kelso, Washington, on Jan. 4, and observed a man later identified as Estoque and a woman in a rented vehicle near the aircraft. Investigators suspect the pair flew the plane during that time.
On Jan. 27, FBI agents conducting surveillance at Corona Municipal Airport observed Estoque attempting to enter and start a different small aircraft — one that had not been registered since 2017. Agents say they watched him power the engine and concluded he was in the process of stealing the plane, then took him into custody.
The complaint alleges Estoque is not a registered pilot and is not listed on the aircraft registration for the plane he tried to fly. It also records an alleged admission by Estoque that he was "under the influence of methamphetamine when operating the plane."
The Los Angeles FBI office published photos on Facebook that investigators included in the criminal complaint. The images reportedly show Estoque and a companion near what appeared to be an airport parking area and beside a small airplane.
Estoque made an initial appearance before a federal magistrate on Jan. 29 and was released on bond. The FBI said its investigation is ongoing and has not indicated whether the woman seen with Estoque will face charges.
Note: All allegations cited here are from a federal criminal complaint. Charges and statements are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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