Ex-DJ Sentenced to Prison for £40m Aircraft Parts Scam
Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, a former techno DJ, has been jailed for orchestrating a massive £40 million global fraud involving counterfeit aircraft parts. Operating from his garage outside London, he sold over 60,000 components through his company, AOG Technics, leading to safety alerts and grounded planes across the world.
Details of the Fraudulent Operation
Zamora Yrala, 38, pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced to four years and eight months at Southwark Crown Court. An investigation by the Serious Fraud Office revealed that he purchased genuine aircraft engine parts, such as seals, bolts, and washers, and then sold them with forged certificates to airlines and suppliers. Between 2019 and July 2023, AOG Technics generated £6.9 million in sales from a home office in Surrey.
Many of the parts were intended for the CFM56 engine, commonly used in popular Airbus and Boeing models. Zamora Yrala used his home computer to doctor authentic certificates and create false delivery records. He also invented fake employees, sending emails and documents signed by non-existent quality managers to lend credibility to his scheme.
Global Impact and Safety Concerns
The fraud was uncovered in August 2023 when an airline contacted a manufacturer to verify an AOG part's authenticity. This led to safety alerts from UK, US, and EU aviation agencies, resulting in planes being grounded worldwide. Estimated losses to airlines exceeded £39.3 million.
Ethiopian Airlines directly purchased over £1.1 million worth of parts from Zamora Yrala. American Airlines, while not a direct buyer, found that 28 of its engines were affected by the fraudulently certified parts, incurring losses of more than £21 million. Ryanair reported discovering fake parts in two aircraft, acquired through third-party suppliers.
Background and Legal Response
Originally from Venezuela, Zamora Yrala had worked in the aviation industry since 2011 and established AOG Technics in 2015 as its sole director, after a previous career as a techno DJ. Emma Luxton, the SFO's director of operations, stated, "Zamora's operation risked public safety on a global scale in a way that defies belief. I'm proud that we have used our specialist skills and expertise to bring him to justice and this criminal operation to the ground as swiftly as possible."
The case highlights significant vulnerabilities in the aviation supply chain and underscores the importance of rigorous certification processes to ensure airworthiness and passenger safety.
