Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Aiming High-Powered Lasers at Metro Police Helicopters

LAS VEGAS, NV — A federal grand jury in Las Vegas has returned two separate indictments charging two Southern Nevada men with aiming high-powered laser pointers at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) air support helicopters.

The charges follow investigations led by the LVMPD Air Support Section, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Endangering Flight Operations Over the Las Vegas Valley

According to court documents unsealed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, the incidents occurred in separate parts of the Las Vegas Valley during nighttime aerial patrols.

James Moore III, 42, of Las Vegas, was charged in connection with a July incident during which an LVMPD “Air 3” helicopter was struck multiple times by a green laser beam while assisting ground units on a tactical call.
Jason Lee, 38, of Henderson, was charged in a separate indictment alleging he repeatedly illuminated the cockpit of a Metro police helicopter operating near the East Tropicana Avenue corridor.

+--------------------------------------------------------+
|          FEDERAL LASER STRIKE INDICTMENT DOSSIER       |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
|  - Prosecuting Authority: U.S. Attorney's Office (NV)  |
|  - Investigating Bodies: FBI, FAA, & LVMPD Air Support |
|  - Defendants: James Moore III (42), Jason Lee (38)    |
|  - Primary Offense: Aiming a Laser Pointer at Aircraft  |
|                   (18 U.S.C. § 39A)                    |
|  - Maximum Statutory Penalty: Up to 5 Years Federal    |
|                              Prison per Count          |
+--------------------------------------------------------+

Severe Risks to Flight Crew and Public Safety

Federal law enforcement officials emphasized that shining high-intensity lasers at aircraft cockpits creates extreme hazards for flight crews. The beam can cause flash blindness, glare, and permanent retinal injury to pilots operating under night-vision conditions over populated urban corridors.

“Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is not a harmless prank—it is a federal crime that directly endangers the lives of pilot crews and the public below,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou. “Federal law enforcement will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who compromise aviation safety.”

Both defendants face a statutory maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 under 18 U.S.C. § 39A. Trial dates for both defendants have been set for late September at the Lloyd D. George U.S. Courthouse in downtown Las Vegas.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Nevada Filings, LVMPD Air Support Records.