There are allegations that four flight attendants who worked on flights from New York's JFK Airport to the Dominican Republic took advantage of their quick pass through security to smuggle millions of dollars into the Caribbean nation. Due to their access to the Known Crewmember fast lane, according to federal prosecutors, the flight attendants were able to "bypass airport security with large quantities of cash without that cash being seized," as reported by NBC News. Authorities claim that the flight attendants received a share of $1,000 or $2,000 from each $60,000 that was carried, and that the cash was connected to the selling of drugs, including fentanyl.
According to the authorities, the flight attendants stole over $8 million in total between 2014 and 2017. Tuesday saw the arrests of Emmanuel Torres, Jarol Fabio, Charlie Hernandez, and Sarah Valerio Pujols. Fox News reported that they are facing felony charges for running an unauthorized money transfer company and breaking rules related to airport security. Charges of conspiracy also apply to Hernandez and Pujols. The arrests came after a multi-year investigation into a money laundering organization, according to an indictment. According to CBS News, prosecutors said that a private informant who had been collaborating with Homeland Security had given the attendants money to smuggle into the Dominican Republic.
TSA-approved airline staff are exempt from X-rays at checkpoints thanks to the Known Crewmember program. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo stated in a statement, "This investigation has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the airline security industry and has illuminated methods that narcotics traffickers are using." According to NBC, Delta has verified that two of the attendants were workers for the company. According to the airline, it is helping the inquiry in every way.
According to the authorities, the flight attendants stole over $8 million in total between 2014 and 2017. Tuesday saw the arrests of Emmanuel Torres, Jarol Fabio, Charlie Hernandez, and Sarah Valerio Pujols. Fox News reported that they are facing felony charges for running an unauthorized money transfer company and breaking rules related to airport security. Charges of conspiracy also apply to Hernandez and Pujols. The arrests came after a multi-year investigation into a money laundering organization, according to an indictment. According to CBS News, prosecutors said that a private informant who had been collaborating with Homeland Security had given the attendants money to smuggle into the Dominican Republic.
TSA-approved airline staff are exempt from X-rays at checkpoints thanks to the Known Crewmember program. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo stated in a statement, "This investigation has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the airline security industry and has illuminated methods that narcotics traffickers are using." According to NBC, Delta has verified that two of the attendants were workers for the company. According to the airline, it is helping the inquiry in every way.
