Trevor Daniel Jacob, a 30-year-old influencer, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for orchestrating a staged plane crash in California.
The sentencing is a result of Jacob obstructing the investigation by destroying debris from the plane crash that occurred on November 24, 2021.
YouTuber Staged Plane Crash
According to The Guardian, Jacob pleaded guilty in June to one count of destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation. The charges stemmed from his YouTube video titled "I Crashed My Airplane," posted in December 2021.
The video purported to capture Jacob experiencing engine failure in his small plane over the mountainous Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara County. The stunt involved Jacob parachuting to safety with a selfie stick camera in hand.
Related Article : YouTuber Pretends to be a Nintendo Insider For a While | What's the Story Behind Waddle Dee's Fake Account?
Planned Stunt For Product Promotion
According to the plea agreement, Jacob's staged plane crash was not an unfortunate incident but rather a planned stunt. He had a sponsorship deal to promote a company's product in the video, revealing that the flight was never intended to be completed.
The Justice Department said that Jacob's deceptive actions attempt to mislead federal investigators about the crash.
Evidence Destruction and False Statements
When Jacob initially informed federal investigators about the crash, he was entrusted with preserving the wreckage. However, instead of telling the truth about the staged accident, he just lied about the location. This made the investigators believe that he was not willing to comply with the responsibility, per Fox News.
"In fact, on December 10, 2021, Jacob and a friend flew by helicopter to the wreckage site. There, Jacob used straps to secure the wreckage, which the helicopter lifted and carried to Rancho Sisquoc in Santa Barbara County, where it was loaded onto a trailer attached to Jacob's pickup truck," the US District Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said Monday, Dec. 4 via South China Morning Post.
The plane's parts were eventually cut up and discarded in trash bins.
YouTuber's Pilot License Revoked
Despite being an experienced pilot and skydiver, Jacob faced severe consequences beyond imprisonment. His pilot license was revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2022.
This legal outcome serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the repercussions influencers may face when their stunts cross legal and ethical boundaries.
Jacob's case shows that being an online influencer is a responsibility. Doing everything for your viewers comes at a cost-whether it's good or bad. The importance of responsible content creation and the serious consequences should be taken into account.
There's nothing wrong with watching your favorite content creators on YouTube or any other platforms, but make sure that you consume their digital content wisely. Do not follow those who condone deceptive actions just for their gain.
