A former fire chief in Upstate New York has been arrested for allegedly forging a drone license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, state police announced Friday.
Michael J. Leonelli, 46, of Central Square, was arrested for forgery and related charges, New York State Police spokeswoman Jennifer Jiron said in a news release.
According to Jiron, Leonelli’s arrest resulted from an investigation by state authorities, with support from the FAA and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.
The probe began after the Caughdenoy Volunteer Fire Department identified discrepancies in Leonelli’s documentation and reported them to state police, she said.
In July, Leonelli was asked to provide the department with his FAA Part 107 UAS Certificate, an official document that demonstrates that a person understands “the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying drones.”
At the time, Leonelli had been operating the department’s drone “in an official capacity as an employee,” officials said.
According to Jiron, Leonelli “allegedly produced a forged document that represented himself as possessing a Part 107 Certificate.”
He was arrested Wednesday and charged with second- and third-degree forgery and criminal possession of a forged Instrument.
The CFVD operates two stations that serve the communities of Hastings, Central Square and Schroeppel in both Oswego and Onondaga counties, according to a description on its website.
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