Accused Airport Developer Extradited, Locked Up in San Bernardino County

A businessman accused of conspiracy, perjury, trying to defraud $1.75 million, and taking, damaging and destroying property exceeding $1 million in connection with development of San Bernardino International Airport, was extradited Thursday from Florida to West Valley Detention Center, a prosecutor's spokesman said Friday.

Airport developer Scot Matthew Spencer, 48, of Boca Raton, Fla., was held March 29 on $1 million bail, according to San Bernardino County inmate records.

Spencer was charged last week in connection with corruption at San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino County District Attorney's spokesman Christopher Lee said. He was arrested Sunday by D.A.'s investigators in Boca Raton.

He was scheduled to be arraigned on conspiracy and perjury charges via video at 12:30 p.m. Friday in Dept. 21, San Bernardino Superior Court, Lee said.

Accused co-conspirator Felice G. Luciano, 69, of Tempe, Arizona,was arrested at 3 p.m. Thursday by D.A. personnel at the District Attorney's central offices on North Mountain View in San Bernardino, according to inmate records.

Luciano was arraigned Thursday in San Bernardino and he pleaded not guilty to all counts, Lee said.

Luciano's bail was set at $500,000. He was released on bail at 12:30 a.m. Friday, according to inmate records. He is scheduled for a disposition hearing April 17 in San Bernardino, Lee said.

A criminal complaint naming Spencer and Luciano accuses them of five felonies.

"Counts 1 and 2 include allegations that Spencer and Luciano conspired to commit the crime of Grand Theft and presenting False Documents to Be Used in Evidence. Spencer was also charged with two counts of Perjury Under Oath and one count of Preparing False Documentary Evidence," District Attorney's staff said in a statement last week.

"Spencer, who was tasked with redeveloping the former Norton Air Force Base, is a convicted felon who previously served time in federal prison for bankruptcy fraud," District Attorney's staff said.

According to the felony complaint, in July 2008 Spencer submitted through an attorney a fraudulent claim to San Bernardino International Airport Authority seeking $1.75 million compensation, and Luciano worked with him in the attempt to secure the $1.75 million.

Spencer and Luciano also allegedly "took, damaged and destroyed property exceeding $1,000,000," the complaint states. A pdf copy of the complaint is attached to this report.

If convicted on all counts, both Spencer and Luciano each face five years in state prison, Lee said.

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