Canadian man pleads guilty to charges of interstate transportation of a stolen plane

KSDK -- A Canadian man pleaded guilty to federal charges of interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft, importation of a stolen aircraft, and illegal entry, for flying a stolen Cessna 172 aircraft into the United States from Canada.

Adam Dylan Leon was a joint Turkish-Canadian citizen residing in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He had been taking aviation classes at Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology in Thunder Bay.

On April 6, 2009, Leon stole a Cessna 172 training aircraft from Confederation College, took off without authorization, and piloted the aircraft southward across the border of the United States. He did not obtain approval from air traffic control and did not respond to radio contact.

Due to the unknown nature of the flight and Leon's lack of radio communication, American and Canadian authorities responded.

Military aircraft intercepted the Cessna 172 after it entered United States airspace, and closely tracked its progress. Attempts to communicate with Leon were unsuccessful.

After flying the plane southward through United States airspace for several hours, Leon landed the plane on a road off of Highway 60 near Ellsinore, Missouri. He was arrested shortly after by the Missouri Highway Patrol at a local grocery store in Ellsinore.

Adam Dylan Leon, also known as Yavuz Berke, 31, of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty to one felony count of interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft, one felony count of importation of a stolen aircraft, and one count of illegal entry into the United States.

Sentencing is set for November 3.

Interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, importation of a stolen aircraft carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, and illegally entering the United States carries a penalty of up to six months in prison for a first-time offender.