The pilot facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing money from John Travolta’s company demanded the actor testify in the case along with copies of financial records, In Touch can exclusively report.

Back in March 2024, Jean Lacruz-Romero was arrested on charges of money laundering, organized fraud and grand theft. The money laundering charge was later dropped.

Prosecutors argued for Jean, 29, to be kept behind bars due to him being a pilot and “not being a US citizen.”

They told the judge there was a “legitimate concern as to him being a flight risk.”

Despite the plea, the court set Jean’s bond at $500,000, and he was ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device while awaiting trial.

A second man named Jorden Coursey was also charged with grand theft over the alleged scheme. He was also released on bond. The court docket shows Jorden entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

The court record does not appear to note Jean’s plea, but he is actively fighting the charges. Both men worked as pilots for the actor’s business, Constellation Productions.

Prosecutors claim Jean and Jorden were given company credit cards to purchase fuel. Jean was accused of stealing nearly $800,000.

The prosecutors accused him of using inflated invoices paid to a company named Lux Fuels, which was owned by Jean’s wife.

The money paid to Lux Fuels was then allegedly transferred to a separate company called JPL Aviation, which Jean owned, according to court documents.

The alleged scheme was uncovered by another employee after he became “suspicious” as to how much the company was paying per gallon of aviation fuel.

According to court documents obtained by In Touch, back in January, Jean listed John and the actor’s personal trainer, James Marino, as potential witnesses to be called in the case.

Prosecutors slammed Jean for adding John and James to his witness list.

They argued, “Based on the information provided to the State by the representative of Constellation Enterprises as well as the testimony provided by the same witness during depositions … neither of these witnesses would have direct knowledge as to the facts of the alleged crimes as they were happening.”

“State believes the defense is listing the witnesses for the purpose of harassment, unnecessary inconvenience and invasion of privacy,” the prosecutors added.

Prosecutors also asked for a hearing on the matter to be held in a “closed courtroom.” In response, Jean’s lawyer called out the prosecutors’ request and asked for it to be denied.

The attorney wrote, “Rarely does the State of Florida seek to close a hearing on behalf of private citizens, much less defense witnesses.” Jean denied he was attempting to harass or invade John and James’ privacy by dragging them into the case.

His lawyer pointed out Jean’s charge related to his time working as John’s pilot.

He said Constellation Productions only has one officer and director, John. “All information gathered by the defense demonstrates that all billing, purchases and invoices regarding aircraft fuel, maintenance and servicing had to be personally approved by Mr. Travolta.”

In addition, Jean said the main person he worked for while at Constellation was John and that is who he piloted for, “regardless of whether the trips were for business or pleasure.”

“As such, one of the main witnesses would be the person who had the most interaction with the pilots/defendants — as employer, as passenger, as co-pilot and as their main traveling companion,” Jean’s lawyer said.

He continued, “Often the pilots, as a condition of their employment, would spend the night in accommodations provided by, and accessed by, Mr. Travolta while traveling or while making preflight arrangements.”

The lawyer added, “Additionally, Mr. Travolta would be a primary witness, as being the person having the most in-person conversations and interactions with the pilots regarding aircraft maintenance, aviation fuel, necessary aircraft supplies” and flight plans.

Jean said James is personal trainer, “frequent traveling companion and has a permanent bedroom assigned to him in Mr. Travolta’s aviation residence.”

Jean said James has knowledge of billing, texts between pilots and third parties and “sleeping accommodations.”

Based on the court record, it does not appear a decision has been made on the prosecutors’ request to strike John and James from Jean’s witness list.

A lawyer for Constellation Productions tells In Touch, “There is currently pending a criminal case charging certain former employees of my client with multiple felonies. Mr. Moreno has no knowledge of the facts or issues in dispute in that case. Accordingly, the court has not determined that Mr. Moreno is a witness in that case.”

Recently, Jean filed a separate motion demanding discovery in the case be turned over. He asked for all statements from American Express from years 2021, 2022 and 2023, that either Jean or Jorden were authorized to charge on, including two credit cards from Constellation Productions. A judge has yet to rule.