New filing alleges employees engaged in fraud and supported competing businesses
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–International law firm King & Spalding LLP is representing defense technology company Delta Black Aerospace, Inc. in an ongoing legal dispute with several former executives, alleging fraudulent and improper actions following their departure from the company. The allegations in the latest counterclaim include the attempted diversion of the company’s technology and business opportunities to competing ventures.
The dispute centers on the development and commercialization of the company’s hybrid unmanned aerial system (UAS), the RAIDER 330. Delta Black asserts that the UAS, designed with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities and intended to operate in GPS-denied environments, has been a central focus of its operations and investment strategy. The company states that it has raised approximately $15 million in funding for the project.
Delta Black alleges that former employees, including former chief executive officer Clay Kroschel and chief operating officer Bronson Ignacio, violated internal policies and contractual obligations by making unauthorized stock option distributions, authorizing personal expenses using company funds, and approving employment agreements without board authorization. The pair are accused of going so far as to fabricate employment agreements and file suit based on those altered documents to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in unauthorized severance payments.
In addition, Delta Black alleges that the executives failed to disclose to the company’s board certain operational issues, including the crash of a prototype drone during testing.
According to the filing, the company terminated Mr. Kroschel and Mr. Ignacio for cause on Oct. 21, 2025. The month prior to that, despite being instructed by the Delta Black board of directors to fire executive Jeremy Gage, Kroschel hid Gage’s continued employment. Gage was fired for cause in September of 2025, but Kroschel kept him employed with the company a full month after that. During that time, Gage continued to receive pay from Delta Black while already working on Kroschel’s new businesses. Kroschel is also accused of fabricating a new employment agreement for Gage which included a fraudulent golden parachute payment for 1 year’s salary so Gage could work for Kroschel over that time at no expense to Kroschel’s new company.
Furthermore, the counterclaims allege that after their departures the former employees sought to attract Delta Black investors and business partners to their new competing ventures. Delta Black contends these activities violate non-compete and confidentiality provisions in prior agreements.
Delta Black is also filing a separate suit against Hop Flyt, Inc. – a former company partner in developing cutting-edge drones – that claims it was conspiring with Mr. Kroschel and Mr. Ignacio to violate preexisting contracts in an attempt to cripple Delta Black’s business at Kroschel’s request.
“The evidence shows a deliberate effort by these former insiders to misuse company resources, mislead investors, and ultimately attempt to take Delta Black’s technology and opportunities for themselves,” said attorney Steve Stodghill.
Delta Black is seeking millions of dollars in damages, injunctive relief, and other remedies through the court.
The cases are Clay Kroschel and Bronson Ignacio vs. Delta Black Aerospace, Inc., et al., Case No. 493-09779-2025, and Delta Black Aerospace, Inc. vs. Hop Flyt, Inc., et al., Case No. 493-09881-2025, in the 493rd District Court of Collin County, Texas.
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