LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A local man was sentenced to nine months in federal prison Thursday for pointing a high-power green laser at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter.
Sergio Octavio Sanchez, of Las Vegas, was sentenced and will also face three years of supervised release following his prison term, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to court documents, on Jan. 2, 2025, Sanchez aimed the green laser pointer several times at the Las Vegas Metropolitan police helicopter while it was providing aerial support for ground officers.
The laser strike forced the pilot to shield his eyes and divert the aircraft from its flight path and assignment.
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“Aiming a laser at an aircraft isn’t a joke—it’s a federal crime that puts lives at risk,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada said.
Federal officials warned that high-powered laser beams can temporarily blind pilots and cause catastrophic crashes. The Federal Aviation Administration reported 10,993 laser strikes nationwide in 2025.
Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.
Officials said the case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
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