Back in July 2021, Patrick Britton-Harr launched AeroVanti. The 37-year-old said his medical services businesses had given him enough wealth to dabble in private travel, although the costs put him off.

When he flew in the Piaggio P.180, a fast turboprop with rear-facing propellers, a comfortable cabin, and lower costs than a jet, Britton-Harr said he was spurred to launch AeroVanti as a private membership club.

By his side was his father, Steve Harr, a retired American Airlines pilot, who would oversee safety. Britton-Harr had already secured an experienced operator to handle the flights for the time being.

Memberships cost $12,000 per year, and flights were $1,950 per hour. That was around 70% cheaper than a light jet, and less than half of what other turboprop programs such as Wheels Up were charging.

Yesterday, a jury found him guilty of six federal wire fraud charges, each carrying a sentence of 20 years in prison.

By the end of May 2023, AeroVanti was facing multiple lawsuits. Initial filings came from Piaggio owners who had leased their airplanes to Britton-Harr but had not been paid.

However, another round of lawsuits was somewhat puzzling. Five groups of 20 individuals had each contributed $150,000, for a total of $15 million. The $3 million from each group was for Britton-Harr to buy out the leases, refurbish the airplanes, and build a fleet.

For their money, Top Gun members would receive discounted flights. They knew that the escrow agent had released the funds to Britton-Harr for the purchase of the airplanes.

The problem was that when they tried to book flights, if successful, AeroVanti would cancel them. At the same time, they had seen AeroVanti take sponsorships with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Cubs, Corie LaJoie's number seven car in NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600, and the Preakness Stakes.

What’s more, several members received letters from the Federal Aviation Administration enquiring about the few flights it was operating. After its charter operator partner pulled out months after the launch, Britton-Harr claimed he was able to continue operating under Part 91F rules, which allow limited cost-sharing between passengers but not commercial charter operations.

Ryan C. Wagner of WLG Firm in Ft Lauderdale, who represented several Top Gun members, said at the time, "Based on the information and documentation that was discovered, and continues to be discovered, the activities and misappropriation of funds related to AeroVanti's Top Gun Membership, are hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme."

Britton-Harr responded by saying, "Flight cancellations due to weather, maintenance, availability, or any other scenarios are part of the aviation industry."

He claimed he had just bought 18 aircraft. He hit back at the members who were suing AeroVanti. He said, "Some people think pressuring employees and threatening employees is the best way for them to get a flight. We are not going to succumb to threats by members. We have tremendous support. We are continuing to move forward and will not be blindsided by a few toxic individuals."

Near the end of June of 2023, Private Jet Card Comparisons reported that, however many aircraft AeroVanti had, none were flying, either down for maintenance, or unable to fly, having already been used for parts. Employees were also no longer being paid. Britton-Harr denied the report to other media outlets, although it proved true.

By July, there was a new CEO, Scott Hopes, who said he would try to get the AeroVanti airborne again. Before he was removed and Britton-Harr returned, Hopes estimated that between lessors, members, trade vendors, and sports team partnerships, there could be $50 million in liabilities.

Even though Britton-Harr had been indicted by the Department of Justice over the summer for submitting false claims to Medicare, he said he would restart his now-admittedly grounded private aviation scheme.

In part, the DOJ alleged that Britton-Harr and Provista Health submitted claims to Medicare for RPP tests that were never performed, including over 300 claims that stated that the nasal swab test sample was supposedly collected from the beneficiary on a date after the beneficiary had died.

Britton-Harr, who continued to email over 400 members who had joined his program with promises of a fresh restart, seemingly operated a few flights. He also introduced a new website called BrixleyXchange, which he positioned as a separate third-party, but was revealed to be connected to a relative.

Last year, the DOJ unsealed the charges he was convicted of earlier this week.

The medical fraud trial is scheduled for October.

Still, in the months leading up to this trial, Britton-Harr sought and received the court's permission to travel to Texas, where he had again partnered with a charter operator to offer cheap private flights. In the weeks leading up to his trial, AeroVanti members were told that an airplane was being moved to Florida and reservations would be open by mid last month.

According to Matthew Hooke of the Baltimore Business Journal, who obtained court transcripts that have yet to be released online by visiting the courthouse, Britton-Harr’s attorney argued that since the agreements would have enabled AeroVanti to gain ownership of the airplanes if it continued operations, his client did not violate the agreement with Top Gun members. Britton-Harr's attorney said the main problem with the business plan was that the rates were too low.

Investigators found Britton-Harr spent the money buying jewelry, renting a house in Florida for $10,000 per month, and buying a yacht for a marine club he had also started.

After the verdict, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said in a press release, "Patrick Britton-Harr stole millions of dollars from his customers by lying to them about how he would use and protect their money. He used his business as a front to fraudulently induce his clients to make down payments for services never provided. Meanwhile, he bought yachts and expensive jewelry and lined his own pockets. The prosecutors and agents who brought this case vindicated the victims. If you prey on, trick, and defraud people, you will be investigated and prosecuted."

Britton-Harr’s attorney did not respond to a request for comments.