Florida postman who landed his gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn facing up to nine and a half years in prison
- Douglas Hughes, 61, has been indicted by a grand jury on six charges that carry up to 9½ years in prison
- In
April he piloted a gyrocopter through miles of America's most restricted airspace before landing at the U.S. Capitol - Hughes faces a misdemeanor charge for operating a vehicle falsely labeled as postal carrier because his gyrocopter carried a Postal Service logo
- Hughes has said his flight was intended to call attention to the influence of big money in politics
The Florida man who piloted a gyrocopter through miles of America's most restricted airspace before landing at the U.S. Capitol is now facing charges that carry up to 9½ years in prison.
Douglas Hughes, 61, has been indicted by a grand jury on six charges, the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia said on Wednesday.
Hughes is scheduled to appear in federal court in Washington on Thursday.
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Douglas Hughes, 61, who piloted a gyrocopter through miles of America's most restricted airspace before landing at the U.S. Capitol, has been indicted by a grand jury on six charges
Hughes, who took off from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was arrested April 15 after he landed on the Capitol's West Lawn.
Hughes has said his flight was intended to call attention to the influence of big money in politics.
The stunt also led to a congressional hearing and exposed a gap in ensuring the safety of buildings in the city.
The charges Hughes now faces include two felonies: operating as an airman without an airman's certificate and violating aircraft registration requirements. Those charges carry a maximum of three years in prison.
He is also facing three misdemeanor
Doug Hughes reads some of the letters of support that he has received since he landed his gyrocopter on the west lawn last month. He is now facing charges that carry up to 9½ years in prison
Hughes, who was arrested April 15 after he landed on the Capitol's West Lawn, said his flight was intended to call attention to the influence of big money in politics
Hughes who had been employed as a postal carrier and lives in Ruskin, Florida, also faces a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle falsely labeled as postal carrier.
The tail section of Hughes' gyrocopter carried a Postal Service logo. That charge carries a statutory maximum of six months in prison.
The charges Hughes faces also carry potential fines. The indictment says that if he is convicted of one or both of the felonies, prosecutors will ask that a judge order him to forfeit the gyrocopter.
During a court appearance the day after his arrest, Hughes was ordered placed on home detention.
He is not allowed to return to Washington except for court appearances and meetings with his attorney, and must stay away from the Capitol and the White House.
He is also barred from operating any aircraft.
Since his arrest Hughes has been placed on home detention and ordered to wear an ankle bracelet
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