A social media influencer finds himself in legal hot water for a viral video involving fireworks launched at a luxury sportscar from a helicopter.
Alex Choi, a Studio City man who boasts 1.2 million Instagram followers, is accused by federal officials of taking a Lamborghini to the federal land portion of El Mirage Dry Lakebed in San Bernardino County, where his associates shot fireworks out of a nearby helicopter at the speeding sportscar, as reported by Seamus Hughes’ Court Watch.
While Choi has removed the full video, clips can still be found online.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Choi—whose birth name is Suk Min Choi—was arrested Wednesday and was scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday afternoon.
According to the DOJ complaint, Choi “directed a YouTube video in which two women in a helicopter – flying near the ground and without filming permits – repeatedly shot fireworks at a Lamborghini sportscar.”
The video titled “Destroying a Lamborghini with Fireworks” was shot in June 2023 and posted on July 4, 2023.
Choi, 24, is charged with causing the placement of an explosive or incendiary device on an aircraft. The charge is a misdemeanor unless it’s determined to have occurred “willfully and without regard for the safety of human life,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Choi did not immediately return KTLA’s request for comment.
In addition, the pilots’ licenses were suspended, according to Court Watch.
