SB Airport Developer Arrested, Accused of Defrauding Airport Authority

Scot Spencer, the developer for the San Bernardino International Airport and one of his investors Felice G. Luciano, have been indicted on felony charges of grand theft and providing false documents in what county District Attorney officials called a scheme defraud the airport authority of more than $1 million.

District Attorney Michael Ramos announced the filing today during a press conference.

The complaint alleges five felonies, officials said. Spencer was also charged with two counts of perjury under oath and one count of preparing false documentary evidence.

The men are accused of fabricating a lease agreement with the Democratic National Committee for the use of an aircraft. District Attorney’s officials said Spencer filed a compensation claim in 2008 seeking $1.75 million after the fake lease was purportedly canceled.

In 2010, District Attorney officials said Luciano allegedly helped create the false lease by signing a document, found to be back-dated to 2008, stating he was contracting for the aircraft on behalf of Unique Aviation for use by the DNC.

If convicted on all counts, both Spencer and Luciano face five years in state prison, officials said. A warrant was issued Friday for Spencer’s arrest. His bail was set for $1,000,000.

Spencer was arrested by District Attorney Investigators Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida, officials said. Luciano is currently at large and wanted.

Spencer, who was tasked with redeveloping the former Norton Air Force Base, is a convicted felon who previously served time in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud, officials wrote in a news release.

“Thanks to the hard work of our investigators and partners at the FBI, we were able to take another step towards weeding out corruption in the county of San Bernardino,” District Attorney Michael Ramos said. “If you conspire to commit a crime against the citizens of this county, you will face serious consequences and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The criminal investigation is continuing. A copy of the complaint is included above with the photos.