Federal investigators have reported the dismantling of a money laundering operation worth millions of dollars. The illicit scheme involved flight attendants who misused their airport privileges to smuggle out $8 million in drug proceeds from the United States. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
Federal agents apprehended a flight attendant at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in a bold operation to dismantle an international money laundering ring. Prosecutors claim that this illicit network successfully funneled $8 million in drug-related profits out of the United States, exploiting flight crews’ unrestricted access to airports. The exclusive video footage captures the dramatic scene as law enforcement intervened to disrupt the operation.
Four airline employees, three from New York and one from New Jersey, stand accused of pocketing a portion of every shipment they smuggled through exclusive employee-access lanes at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. These illicit activities involved sending the contraband on flights headed for the Dominican Republic.
The individuals involved in the case were granted special clearance through the Known Crewmember Program (KCM) by the TSA. This program allows airline employees with KCM status to go through a separate security lane that offers expedited screening and reduced scrutiny, as stated by federal prosecutors.
According to the federal criminal complaint, flight attendants with KCM privileges can now bypass airport security with significant amounts of cash without the risk of having it confiscated due to the relaxed security procedures.
Spirit Airlines CEO, Ted Christie, has expressed his views on the airline industry, stating that it resembles a “rigged game” in which US consumers are the “long-term losers.” Christie believes that the current structure of the industry, with its limited competition and high barriers to entry, ultimately leads to higher prices for consumers. He argues that the lack of true market forces allows larger airlines to dominate and control pricing, leaving consumers with fewer options and higher costs. Christie’s remarks shed light on the challenges faced by consumers in the airline industry and highlight the need for increased competition and transparency.
A flight attendant, who allegedly abused his known crewmember status, was escorted out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The attendant is accused of smuggling drug money from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic. A photo obtained by Fox News Digital shows the incident taking place.
Charlie Hernandez, aged 42, Sarah Valerio Pujols, aged 42, Emmanuel Torres, aged 34, and Jarol Fabio, aged 35, are all facing federal felony charges. These charges include operating an unlicensed money transmission business and violating airport security requirements.
“As per the allegations, the defendants were aware that they were smuggling substantial sums of illegal money associated with the sale of narcotics, including fentanyl. They exploited airport security checkpoints by leveraging their trusted roles as flight attendants,” stated Ivan Arvelo, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, during a press conference on Wednesday. He further added, “This investigation has brought to light significant vulnerabilities in the airline security sector and has shed light on the tactics employed by drug traffickers.”
Homeland Security Investigations agents escort flight attendant out of JFK Airport
Federal investigators have announced the dismantlement of a money laundering ring worth millions of dollars. The ring involved flight attendants who allegedly misused their airport access to smuggle $8 million in drug funds out of the United States. This information was obtained by Fox News Digital.
The individuals reportedly used the term “lotions” as a secret code to refer to drug money. They would communicate with their handlers ahead of flights to the Caribbean country, inquiring about the cargo. Additionally, they referred to the drug-dealing clients of the smuggling operation as “los tigres,” which translates to “the tigers” in Spanish. When discussing “stuff,” they were actually referring to the drugs, including fentanyl, that generated illegal profits.
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According to court documents, Hernandez stands accused of smuggling a minimum of $2.5 million between 2014 and 2019. Pujols, during the same time frame, is alleged to have transported at least $1.5 million on flights to the Dominican Republic. Torres and Fabio, on the other hand, are accused of smuggling over $1.5 million each between 2015 and last year, and they could potentially face up to 15 years in prison.
They allegedly received a small cut of around $1,000 to $2,000 per $60,000 smuggled in exchange for successfully getting the cash through TSA checkpoints.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams stated that these flight attendants had been involved in smuggling millions of dollars of drug money and law enforcement funds, which they believed to be drug money, from the United States to the Dominican Republic for several years. They exploited their privileges as airline employees to carry out these illegal activities.
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Hernandez could potentially be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison due to the conspiracy charges he is facing. Similarly, Pujols is also charged with conspiracy and an additional count of bulk cash smuggling, which could result in a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison if she is found guilty.
In 2019, an unspecified international airline terminated her employment after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents discovered $60,000 in undeclared cash in her purse during a routine check on December 20th, as stated in the complaint.
In 2018, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the NYPD initiated an investigation into a global drug trafficking and money laundering operation. During the course of their inquiry, they discovered a valuable source of information referred to as “Cooperating Witness 1” in the official records. This informant played a pivotal role in exposing the individuals involved in the illegal activities, including those responsible for transporting the illicit substances.
After the CBP agents stopped Pujols, federal investigators were informed by the informant that Hernandez had an additional $60,000 that cannot be traced.
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