PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — A lengthy investigation into missing student funds at a Peachtree City flight school has led to the arrests of two former business owners now facing theft and racketeering charges.
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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Peachtree City Police Department announced Friday the arrests of Alex Hamlin, 34, and Harlan Hamlin, 59, both of Peachtree City. The pair is charged with 20 counts of theft by conversion and one count of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
According to authorities, the case stems from complaints filed by students who attended FLYT Aviation, a flight school formerly located in Peachtree City.
Police said they began receiving reports in November 2024 after the business was sold to a new owner. Students reported financial discrepancies involving money they had paid for flight training.
As complaints mounted, Peachtree City police requested assistance from the GBI’s Financial Investigation Unit to conduct a forensic financial audit. Investigators said nearly 50 victims eventually came forward during the investigation.
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The GBI said the investigation found that multiple student accounts were misappropriated while Alex and Harlan Hamlin operated the business. Authorities said some of the affected accounts belonged to students participating in aviation scholarship and financing programs.
After more than a year of investigating the allegations, the case was formally turned over to the GBI in late 2025.
On Friday, agents and local officers arrested both men. They were booked into the Fayette County Jail.
Authorities said additional arrests are expected, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Once complete, the case will be turned over to the Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
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