John Travolta Set To Testify In His Company's Ongoing Organized Fraud Case

John Travolta is being called to the stand by Jean Lacruz-Romero, demanding that the actor provide financial records and testify in the case, which centers around allegations of stolen funds.

The ongoing case stems from Lacruz-Romero's arrest in March 2024 on charges of money laundering, grand theft, and organized fraud concerning Travolta's company.

Beyond his Hollywood fame, John Travolta is a seasoned pilot with a deep love for aviation. He earned his first pilot's license at 24 and has since become a proud holder of multiple aviation certifications.

Lacruz-Romero listed the actor and Travolta's personal trainer, James Marino, as potential witnesses in his ongoing case. 

However, prosecutors quickly slammed the inclusion of Travolta and Marino, arguing that "neither of these witnesses would have direct knowledge as to the facts of the alleged crimes as they were happening."

In Touch reports that the prosecution believes that "the defense is listing the witnesses for the purpose of harassment, unnecessary inconvenience, and invasion of privacy." They also requested a hearing in a "closed courtroom."

Lacruz-Romero's attorney strongly disagreed with the prosecution's request to close a hearing regarding the defense's potential witnesses, including Travolta and Marino.

The lawyer argued that it is unusual for the State of Florida to seek such a measure, particularly concerning defense witnesses. Lacruz-Romero also denied any intent to harass or invade the privacy of either Travolta or Marino.

Lacruz-Romero's legal team explained that his charges stemmed from his work as Travolta's pilot. As the only officer and director of Constellation Productions, Travolta personally approved all key aircraft-related transactions.

Marino is also said to have firsthand knowledge, as he is reportedly a "frequent traveling companion and has a permanent bedroom assigned to him in Mr. Travolta's aviation residence."

In March 2024, Lacruz-Romero's arrest marked the beginning of a complicated legal battle, with prosecutors urging that he be held without bail due to his position as a pilot and non-U.S. citizenship. 

Knowing this, the court set his bond at $500,000 and required him to wear a GPS monitoring device while awaiting trial. Lacruz-Romero and co-defendant Jorden Coursey were charged with grand theft in connection with the alleged fuel fraud scheme. 

Prosecutors claim the duo used company credit cards to purchase fuel, with Lacruz-Romero accused of stealing nearly $800,000. 

The scheme allegedly involved inflating invoices for Lux Fuels, a company owned by Lacruz-Romero's wife, and funneling money to his own company, JPL Aviation. The plot was supposedly uncovered after an employee noticed the excessive aviation fuel costs.

Even as legal issues cast a shadow over his company, it is important to highlight that Travolta is a seasoned pilot with the necessary qualifications. 

In 2022, The Blast reported that Travolta took to Instagram to share the milestone with his followers. In a video, the 71-year-old proudly announced he had added a 737 license to his impressive collection. 

He declared, "To add to my 747 and 707 licenses, I just received my 737 (pilot) license, and it went very well." Travolta's commitment to aviation also extends to owning several airplanes, including a Boeing 707-138B, an Eclipse 500, and the Bombardier Challenger 601. 

Travolta's passion for aviation has clearly flown down to his children, with his son Ben showing off his budding piloting skills in an adorable 2019 Instagram post. 

The producer shared a touching photo of then-8-year-old Ben sitting proudly at the controls of a massive airplane, complete with a pilot's hat and a big smile. Travolta, known for his love of flying, captioned the image, "My son Ben is taking my place! His first A380 @qantas flight."

The A380, the world's largest passenger airplane, can carry up to 868 passengers across its two decks. As an ambassador for Qantas since 2002, it is no surprise that Ben would fly with the airline.

As the legal battle unfolds, whether John Travolta will testify in the high-profile fraud case is yet to be determined.