Great Britain man with helicopter company office in Bristol, TN pleads guilty to federal aircraft fraud charge

A Great Britain man has pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge involving his helicopter company that has an office in Bristol, TN.

Earlier this week, Richard Harper, 67, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted aircraft parts fraud. Harper owned Apple Helicopter International and his company at one time purchased, refurbished, and sold used helicopters and helicopter parts internationally. Prosecutors say Harper purchased a damaged aircraft, and switched the fuselage of the helicopter with another helicopter that previously crashed. Harper intended to defraud unsuspecting purchasers by switching the date plate of the aircraft and reselling the chopper.

Prosecutors reported Harper then attempted to sell the helicopter with the switched date plate to an undercover agent that posed as an aircraft broker. Harper was arrested in Los Angeles by federal agents in January when he heading to a national helicopter convention.

He could face up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in October.