Cherian Abraham, Abusive Sexual Contact, Washington 2025

A disturbing case of in-flight harassment has come to light, with a Texas man pleading guilty to abusive sexual contact on a plane flying from Chicago to Seattle.

Cherian Abraham, a 54-year-old man from Allen, Texas, pleaded guilty to the crime, which occurred in March 2025.

According to court records, Abraham was seated next to a 22-year-old woman on the flight. On three separate occasions, he allegedly reached under her arm to touch her breast.

The victim first thought the contact may have been accidental, but when Abraham touched her again five minutes later, she looked at him pointedly and he withdrew his hand. However, undeterred, Abraham touched the victim once more, prompting her to verbally confront him.

She then got out of her seat and contacted the flight attendant, who moved her to a different seat. An investigation by the FBI revealed that Abraham had twice before been alleged to have touched fellow passengers inappropriately.

On April 24, 2024, a victim reported to the airline’s online customer service portal that Abraham had repeatedly touched her and attempted to put his hand between her thighs. The victim yelled at Abraham but was unable to get the attention of a flight attendant.

On October 9, 2023, Minneapolis Airport Police interviewed Abraham after a victim reported that he had touched her leg with an open hand three times. The victim told him to stop and contacted the flight crew, who moved her to a different seat.

Abraham denied touching the victim at the time, but the incident has come back to haunt him. He now faces up to two years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson on September 15, 2025.

Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence in the middle of Abraham’s guideline range as calculated by the court. However, Judge Evanson is not bound by the recommendation and can impose any sentence allowed by law.

Abusive sexual contact is a serious crime, punishable by up to two years in prison. The case is being investigated by the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ajay Ravindran and Jessica M. Ly prosecuting the case.

Cherian Abraham, 54, of Allen, Texas, Defendant: Abusive sexual contact, City: Seattle, State: Washington, Date: March 2025, Sentence: Up to 2 years in prison