Social Media
The High Cost of Online Stunts: YouTuber Faces 20 Years in Prison
Trevor Jacobs intentionally crashed his plane to perform a stunt for a sponsorship deal.
In my previous posts, I’ve shared some exciting news that had everyone buzzing. But this time, I’m bringing you a shocking story that has left many people in disbelief.
A popular YouTuber’s attempt at a ridiculous stunt for a sponsored deal has set social media ablaze with controversy and sparked a heated debate about the dangerous lengths people will go to for fame and fortune.
While scrolling through my social media feed, I stumbled upon a shocking piece of news — YouTuber Trevor Jacobs has recently pleaded guilty to obstructing a federal investigation. The details of his actions are nothing short of unbelievable.
He intentionally crashed his plane and then tried to hide all the evidence. Why, you ask? Brace yourself for this because he had a sponsorship deal to promote a wallet. Yeah, seriously.
The whole mess started back in November 2021. Jacob took his private plane up in the air, supposedly to scatter his best friend’s ashes over the Sierra Nevada mountains. But, in the middle of the flight, his engine takes an unplanned nap.
Talk about bad luck, right? So, what does he do? He bails out of the aircraft, leaving it to crash into the Los Padres National Forest in Southern California. Meanwhile, he’s stuck trekking through rough terrain until a kind passerby comes to his rescue. Talk about a wild adventure!
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Jacob thought it’d be a genius move to post a video of his great escape on YouTube. But guess what? The video raised more questions than answers. People were quick to notice some major red flags.
First off, there was no sign that Jacob even tried to restart the engine, call for help, or find a safe place to land. It seemed like he was more concerned about capturing the crash on camera than anything else. And get this — he had a parachute on and multiple cameras set up on the plane. Sketchy, right?
The online aviation community didn’t buy his story either. One user on the Flying subreddit called out the absurdity of it all. No attempt to fix the engine failure, a sudden jump with a parachute and a selfie stick? Plus, it looks like he purposely nosedived to ensure a high-speed crash.
Other folks chimed in, too, expressing concerns about innocent bystanders who could have been harmed if the plane had hit them. They hoped the aviation community would make life difficult for Jacob when it came to flying again. And guess what? Their wish came true.
In April 2022, the FAA dropped the hammer on Jacob. They revoked his pilot license, accusing him of acting in a careless and reckless manner that endangered the lives of others. They even suspected that he staged the whole thing.
Ouch! The FAA didn’t hold back when they called him out. They straight-up told him that he showed zero care, judgment, and responsibility by bailing out just to capture a crash on film. His actions scream ‘irresponsible’ and are totally unacceptable for someone with a certificate.
But wait, there’s more. Jacob thought he could cover up his tracks. Instead of seeking help immediately after landing, he went on a little hike to the crash site. He snatched the footage from the cameras he had installed on the plane.
Two days later, he finally reported the crash to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). But here’s the kicker — he claimed he didn’t know where the wreckage was. Come on, man, give us a break!
As if that wasn’t enough, Jacob and his buddy took things to a whole new level. They decided to go all stealth mode. They recovered the plane and dragged it to a hangar. Over several days, they dismantled parts of the aircraft and stashed them in trash cans around the airport.
It’s like they were playing a messed-up game of “How to be a Serial Killer 101.” I mean, who does that? Destroying evidence and lying to investigators in a federal investigation is no joke, my friend. That’s some serious stuff.
The Department of Transport got wind of Jacob’s shenanigans and decided to launch an investigation. They teamed up with the NTSB and the FAA, who clearly weren’t buying his story from the get-go. After digging deep and gathering all the facts, they exposed Jacob’s deceitful actions.
In the end, Jacob couldn’t keep up the charade any longer. He copped to everything, confessing his sins in a plea deal with the almighty US Department of Justice. And now, he’s facing the consequences. He’s looking at a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Yep, you heard me right. Twenty long years behind bars for destruction and concealment with the intent to obstruct a federal investigation. That’s no walk in the park.
Now, I can’t help but wonder, what on earth possessed Jacob to engage in such a colossal act of stupidity? According to the Department of Justice, it all boils down to that sponsorship deal he had with some unnamed company. They wanted him to make a video promoting a wallet.
Yeah, seriously, a wallet. I guess he thought crashing a plane and filming the whole thing would boost wallet sales or something. The man should have taken a moment to watch a tutorial on common sense before embarking on this insane adventure.
So there you have it, the unbelievable tale of Trevor Jacob, the YouTuber turned into a daredevil, cover-up artist. It’s a prime example of how not to handle yourself in any situation, let alone one involving federal investigations and crashing planes.
Final Words
Remember this, honesty is the best policy. Don’t go pulling off crazy stunts for the sake of some sponsorship deal.
And for the love of all that’s good in this world, please don’t destroy evidence and lie to investigators. It’s just not worth it.
Let Trevor Jacob’s story serve as a cautionary tale for all those out there who think they can outsmart the system.
Trust me, the truth has a way of catching up with us.
If you enjoy my posts and would like to stay updated on the latest gaming-related news, technology advancements, design trends, and social media insights, I invite you to follow my profile.
I will continue to share my thoughts and insights on a wide range of topics in the world of entertainment and technology.
With that being said, thank you for reading my post, and have a good one.
Here are a few of my previous stories I believe you will enjoy:
References
YouTuber Who Intentionally Crashed Plane Pleads Guilty, Faces 20 Years In Prison.
YouTuber facing 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to intentionally crashing his plane.
About Me
I write articles in my field covering gaming, film-making, social media, and design. I am also a YouTuber. Thank you for subscribing to my account to get notifications when I post on Medium. I also created a new website to share my content for free and promote stories of writers contributing to my publications on Medium. Let’s connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.
I own two publications on Medium. One for video gamers and another for YouTubers and Podcasters. I also support Illumination Integrated Publications as a volunteer editor and participate in collaborative activities in the Slack Workspace. Writer applications for my publications can be sent via this weblink. Please add your Medium ID.
If you are new to Medium, you may join via my referral link. You may also consider being a Vocal+ member to monetize your content. I write for both platforms and repurpose my content to reach a larger audience. Here is more information about Vocal Media.
This post includes my Medium and Vocal Media referral links.