Related Federal Cases
Two Airline Passengers from New York Charged with Assaulting Flight Crew
Kelly Pichardo, 31, and Leeza S. Rodriguez, 30, both from the Bronx, New York, have been charged with interfering with a flight crew and assaulting passengers on a flight from Dallas to Los Angeles in February 2021.
According to the indictment, Pichardo and Rodriguez assaulted a flight crew member and another passenger on board the American Airlines flight, compelling the crew to conduct an unscheduled landing in Phoenix, Arizona.
The indictment alleges that Pichardo and Rodriguez interfered with the ability of the flight crew to perform their duties by assaulting a crew member and lessening their ability to perform those duties.
Pichardo and Rodriguez face serious penalties if convicted. A conviction for Interfering with a Flight Crew Member carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of confinement and a $250,000.00 fine. A conviction for Simple Assault carries a maximum penalty of 6 months of confinement and a $5,000.00 fine.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Hakala is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pichardo appeared virtually in federal court on the charges, while Rodriguez is scheduled to appear next week. The case number is 21-CR-00494-DWL, and the release number is 2021-042_Pichardo.
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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