Reston Man Who Headed Private Jet Charter Company Convicted Of Bankruptcy Fraud

RESTON, VA — A federal judge convicted a Reston man Tuesday on a series of fraud charges related to a bankruptcy case that allowed the man to get $6 million in personal debt canceled, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said Wednesday.

Judge Claude M. Hilton of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued the decision against Alan Russell Cook Sr., president and CEO of Metropolitan Aviation, a private jet charter company based in Reston.

In July 2017, Cook filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy. In anticipation of the filing, Cook transferred more than $350,000 to his former girlfriend. He instructed her to open accounts in her name and in the name of a fake company, Metro Aire, to receive his personal property and revenue from Metropolitan Aviation, according to court records.

In connection with his bankruptcy case, Cook, 64, failed to disclose several bank accounts and over $50,000 in casino cash-outs, according to the court records.

At a meeting of his creditors, Cook made several false statements under oath, including that his company was shut down for four to five months and generated no revenue in 2017, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

In reality, Metropolitan Aviation generated revenue every month of 2017, totaling more than $1 million. Cook further failed to disclose making payments for his girlfriend’s luxury vehicle and his access to the fraudulent company's bank account, including writing checks for personal expenses, withdrawing cash and paying for hotel stays, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Cook faces a maximum of 20 years in prison at his sentencing, scheduled for April 22, 2022.