Jet Genius, Charter Flight Group lawsuit continues, adds Jet Agency

The lawsuit by partner Aaron “Angel” Stanz against Florida-based Jet Genius, Charter Flight Group, its principal Jordan Brown, and related companies is continuing. There are new defendants and additional allegations via the latest filing, which alleges over $125 million in misappropriated funds.

The plaintiff was allowed to refile an amended complaint by Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel, who is hearing the case in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

New Defendants added include Jet Agency Global LLC, C3 Limo LLC, and Bowman Aviation, Inc. The latter was incorrectly named in a previous filing.

The refiled complaint adds allegations under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act or RICO.

The action alleges Brown set up new companies to misappropriate business and intellectual property from similarly named companies where Stanz was a partner.

Assets, including technology and revenues, were funneled to new and similarly named companies that excluded Stanz, according to the filing. The lawsuit also alleges millions of dollars in unpaid Federal Excise Taxes for charter flights the group brokered for clients.

Against defendant Jet Genius Florida Holdings, Inc., Stanz “seeks ascension of Plaintiff’s designee to the Board of Directors of Defendant Jet Genius Florida Holdings, Inc., and restoration of Plaintiff’s shareholdings representing the 24.5% equity value he wrongfully relinquished under the Shareholder Agreement, without which Defendant Jet Genius Florida Holdings, Inc., would not exist,” according to the suit.

Stanz also seeks $909,451 for any purported transfer in breach of the Shareholder Agreement that is found to have occurred prior to November 1, 2019; $727,561 for any purported transfer in breach of the Shareholder Agreement that was found to have occurred prior to November 1, 2020; $545,671 for any purported transfer in breach of the Shareholder Agreement which was found to have occurred prior to November 1, 2021, and $363,780 for any purported transfer in breach of the Shareholder Agreement which was found to have occurred prior to November 1, 2022.

Nicholas D. Brauns of Higgs, Fletcher, Mack, representing Brown, tells Private Jet Card Comparisons, “We filed a motion to dismiss the original complaint.  Mr. Stanz did not challenge the merits of our motion but instead changed the complaint to make different allegations.  On March 2, Mr. Stanz and his attorneys filed this ‘First Amended Complaint,’ which we will again ask the Court to dismiss.”

A new jet card

Charter Flight Group currently offers a wholesale-based pricing membership. Jet Genius is also launching a fixed-rate jet card under its Jet Agency banner.

Stanz has had his own legal issues in the past.

In May 2018, Stanz was charged by the SEC with defrauding investors by making exaggerated and misleading claims about the medical marijuana company’s business operations and financial condition. The case was settled without Stanz admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations

In 2009, Stanz was cited by the Attorney General of Illinois for “alleged phone cramming operations..that placed unauthorized charges on the phone bills of thousands of Illinois consumers, small businesses and local governments.” As part of the settlement, Stanz agreed to cease participating in the alleged deceptive practices.