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Miramar Man Indicted in Alleged $1M Aviation Parts and Investment Fraud Scheme
Alain R. Ruiz, 45, of Miramar, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida on charges he forged FAA certifications and fabricated military purchase orders to defraud investors of more than $1 million through two Pembroke Pines aviation companies. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the top counts.
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida has indicted a Miramar man accused of running a multi-year scheme that defrauded investors out of more than $1 million through two Pembroke Pines aviation companies, according to court records unsealed this week.
Alain R. Ruiz, 45, faces two counts of fraud involving aircraft parts, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. Each conspiracy and wire fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while the fraud and money-laundering counts carry up to 10 years each.
Prosecutors allege Ruiz owned Premier Aviation Sales, Inc. and Capital Aviation Sales, Inc., businesses that purported to broker and repair aviation components. According to the indictment, Ruiz solicited money by falsely claiming he had access to government contracts and foreign military purchase orders, and that he possessed hard-to-find aircraft parts.
Investigators say the scheme relied on a forged Federal Aviation Administration certification form, falsified documents and fabricated aircraft-part traceability records used to persuade victims to wire money into accounts he controlled. Some of the incoming funds were allegedly used to pay earlier investors in a Ponzi-style arrangement, while other money went toward Ruiz's personal expenses.
The charges follow earlier warnings from investors. In 2024, a group of people who had put money into the Pembroke Pines aviation sales company said Ruiz, then the company's president, was not honoring his agreements.
"It's all lies," Rosa Monert told reporters at the time, saying the company owed her more than $20,000. Monert said she had entered a finance agreement with Premier Aviation Sales Inc. promising to repay her investment plus 12% interest over three months.
"I gave him $35,000," she said. "With the percentage, he's supposed to give me $4,200 a month, and he paid only the first month. And after that, nothing."
The case highlights the vulnerability of small investors drawn to high-interest aviation finance deals, and the importance of verifying FAA certifications and military contract claims before wiring funds. Aviation parts traceability is a critical safety and regulatory requirement, and forged documentation can undermine trust in the supply chain.
It was not immediately clear whether Ruiz has entered a plea or retained counsel. Court records did not list an attorney for him as of Wednesday. A federal magistrate will preside over initial appearances in the coming weeks.