Airline Pilot Anthony Warner Smuggled $195,736 at Newark Airport

Dallas airline pilot Anthony Warner, 55, pleaded guilty to smuggling $195,736 in undeclared U.S. currency through Newark Liberty International Airport, exploiting his Global Entry status to bypass standard customs checks. The United pilot was caught on January 10, 2016, after arriving from an international flight, when a malfunctioning Global Entry kiosk forced him to interact with a live CBP officer.

Warner, of Dallas, Texas, confessed to carrying the cash in a laptop-style bag, wrapped in newspaper, along with 10 rings, four sets of earrings, and other unvalued jewelry. His customs declaration and verbal statements to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) falsely claimed no cash was being transported—directly contradicting physical evidence found during screening.

The Global Entry program, meant for low-risk, pre-vetted travelers, allows expedited entry through automated kiosks that verify identity via passport and fingerprint scans. Participants are still required to declare all items truthfully. Warner’s membership in the trusted traveler program adds a layer of betrayal to the crime, as he knowingly abused privileges granted after background checks and in-person interviews.

When the kiosk system failed that day, Warner’s deception unraveled. CBP officers referred him for secondary inspection, where the bulk currency was discovered. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested him on the spot. The seizure highlighted vulnerabilities in trusted traveler protocols when declarations aren’t physically verified.

Warner pleaded guilty to one count of bulk cash smuggling before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and mandatory forfeiture of all involved property. As part of his plea agreement, Warner agreed to forfeit the full $195,736 in smuggled currency.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman credited HSI Newark and CBP New York Field Office, led by Special Agent in Charge Terence S. Opiola and Director Robert E. Perez, respectively, for their roles in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara F. Merin is prosecuting the case. Warner’s sentencing is scheduled for April 18, 2017. His defense is handled by Steven Altman and Jeffrey Altman Esqs. of New Brunswick, New Jersey.