Popular Los Angeles YouTuber, 24-year-old Suk Min Choi, could face time in prison as the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California slammed an explosives charge on him for directing a video stunt in which fireworks were blasted from an airborne helicopter and at a speeding Lamborghini.
YouTuber Alex Choi faces federal charges after filming two women in a helicopter shooting fireworks at a Lamborghinipic.twitter.com/JQZVSPTRqt— Dexerto (@Dexerto) June 6, 2024
He was arrested on Wednesday and prosecutors have charged him with one count of causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft.
The complaint was first filed in July last year after Choi’s video titled “Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks” was released on social media. The video shared on YouTube and Instagram where Choi has 923,000 followers and 1.2 million followers, respectively, gained many views shortly after being uploaded.
The nearly 11-minute video has now been removed from his social media pages. In the video two women are seen shooting fireworks out of the helicopter and toward the Lamborghini.
“After shooting what appears to be a live-action version of a fictionalised video game scene, the video transitions to a behind-the-scenes look at how Choi shot the first third of the video. During this portion of the video, Choi allegedly makes various references to himself coordinating the shoot,” the US Attorney’s Office said, according to US-based broadcaster CNN.
The authorities told the broadcaster that they believe the footage was shot in June 2023 on a federally-owned area of the El Mirage Dry Lakebed in San Bernardino County, California. Prosecutors used photos of tire marks left behind by the sports car, which was provided by the US Bureau of Land Management.
He also did not have the required approval of the Federal Aviation Administration which is required for planned filming activities involving helicopters. He is also accused of travelling to Las Vegas to buy the fireworks because they are illegal in California.
Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the US attorney’s office, told the broadcaster that no other people involved in the video were named in the affidavit and none were injured as a result of the stunt.
Choi made his initial court appearance on Thursday and was released on a $50,000 bond, McEvoy said. Choi did not enter a plea. His arraignment is scheduled for July 2.
If convicted as charged, he faces up to 10 years in prison, according to prosecutors.
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