A man has pleaded guilty to piloting a drone in flight-restricted airspace without a license as well as conspiring to commit wire fraud and unlawfully using another’s identity.
The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reports that Melvin Leonard Mitchell III, from Arlington admitted in plea documents to knowingly and willfully serving or attempting to serve as an airman without a valid licence when he piloted his drone while a temporary flight restriction was in effect during the 2026 Grand Prix Race in Arlington.
Plea documents show that Mitchell had been warned in August 2023 of the federal requirement to obtain an airman’s certificate with the Federal Aviation Administration before operating a drone in flight-restricted airspace.
TSA states that Mitchell also admitted that between January 2022 and May 2026, he, along with several co-conspirators, procured counterfeit driver’s licenses bearing the names, dates of birth and addresses of real persons. He faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to USD 250,000 on each count. Mitchell’s sentencing hearing has been set for Nov. 13 before Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor.
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