Former drone show operator indicted for fraud and identity theft

Skyrover X1 Fly More Combo Now $682.48 (25%) Off On Amazon With DRONEXL2025 Discount Code

On September 2, 2020, former drone show operator David J. Oneal was indicted by a grand jury in the Western District of Texas for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Former drone show operator indicted for fraud and identity theft

According to the indictment, Oneal, owner of Wildly Creative Marketing, agreed to perform a drone show at SeaWorld, San Antonio, Texas. He allegedly provided SeaWorld with falsified and/or fraudulently used documents, including certificates of registration for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems he proposed to use, pictures of certificates belonging to two pilots he claimed to have employed, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver required to conduct the show. Upon receipt of the documents, SeaWorld sent Oneal two separate payments, which were deposited into a bank account that he controlled, but he did not appear or perform the drone show.

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the U.S. Secret Service.

Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: the Office of Acting Inspector General Howard R. Elliott:

Hat tip to sUAS News.

Flying drones as a career? Check out The Drone U!

Droneu Marketing Banner Ad 1

Stay in touch!

If you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest drone news, scoops, rumors, and reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or…

Subscribe to our Daily Drone News email.*


 

Submit tips If you have information or tips that you would like to share with us, feel free to submit them hereSupport DroneXL.co: You can support DroneXL.co by using these links when you make your next drone purchase: Adorama, Amazon, B&H, BestBuy, eBay, DJI, Parrot, and Yuneec. We make a small commission when you do so at no additional expense to you. Thank you for helping DroneXL grow! FTC: DroneXL.co uses affiliate links that generate income.

* We do not sell, share, rent out or spam your email, ever. Our email goes out on weekdays around 5:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy of sUAS News


Discover more from DroneXL.co

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Check out our Classic Line of T-Shirts, Polos, Hoodies and more in our new store today!

Ad DroneXL e-Store

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Proposed legislation threatens your ability to use drones for fun, work, and safety. The Drone Advocacy Alliance is fighting to ensure your voice is heard in these critical policy discussions.Join us and tell your elected officials to protect your right to fly.

Drone Advocacy Alliance
TAKE ACTION NOW

Get your Part 107 Certificate

Pass the Part 107 test and take to the skies with the Pilot Institute. We have helped thousands of people become airplane and commercial drone pilots. Our courses are designed by industry experts to help you pass FAA tests and achieve your dreams.

pilot institute dronexl

Copyright © DroneXL.co 2025. All rights reserved. The content, images, and intellectual property on this website are protected by copyright law. Reproduction or distribution of any material without prior written permission from DroneXL.co is strictly prohibited. For permissions and inquiries, please contact us first. DroneXL.co is a proud partner of the Drone Advocacy Alliance. Be sure to check out DroneXL's sister site, EVXL.co, for all the latest news on electric vehicles.

FTC: DroneXL.co is an Amazon Associate and uses affiliate links that can generate income from qualifying purchases. We do not sell, share, rent out, or spam your email.

Follow us on Google News!
Haye Kesteloo
Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is a leading drone industry expert and Editor in Chief of DroneXL.co and EVXL.co, where he covers drone technology, industry developments, and electric mobility trends. With over nine years of specialized coverage in unmanned aerial systems, his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and cited by The Brookings Institute, Foreign Policy, Politico and others.

Before founding DroneXL.co, Kesteloo built his expertise at DroneDJ. He currently co-hosts the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and podcast platforms, sharing industry insights with a global audience. His reporting has influenced policy discussions and been referenced in federal documents, establishing him as an authoritative voice in drone technology and regulation. He can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

Articles: 5505

One comment

  1. There’s a balance in life and I’d like to offer some.

    Got to know David quite well.
    Got to see some reality adding to David’s credibility.
    Thing is, several of us saw it at a level most would dismiss it they only had our insight.

    Just saying.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.