Four flight attendants have been arrested and charged with smuggling $8 million in bulk cash from the United States to the Dominican Republic, using their trusted positions to evade airport security checkpoints.
According to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, the flight attendants – CHARLIE HERNANDEZ, 42, of West New York, New Jersey, SARAH VALERIO PUJOLS, 42, of the Bronx, New York, EMMANUEL TORRES, 34, of Brooklyn, New York, and JAROL FABIO, age not provided – used their ‘Known Crewmember’ status to pass through special security lanes at John F. Kennedy International Airport and other airports, allowing them to smuggle large amounts of cash undetected.
The flight attendants allegedly worked with a money laundering organization, led by a cooperating witness, to transport cash proceeds from narcotics sales from New York City to the Dominican Republic. In exchange for a fee, the defendants accepted bulk cash from the organization and passed it off to other members in the Dominican Republic.
The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations, revealed that the defendants smuggled approximately $8 million in bulk cash over several years, using various methods to evade detection. The defendants were arrested yesterday and are expected to appear in Manhattan federal court today.
‘As alleged, these flight attendants smuggled millions of dollars of drug money and law enforcement funds that they thought was drug money from the United States to the Dominican Republic over many years by abusing their privileges as airline employees,’ said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. ‘Today’s charges should serve as a reminder to those who break the law by helping drug traffickers move their money that crime doesn’t pay.’
HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo added, ‘This investigation has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the airline security industry and has illuminated methods that narcotics traffickers are utilizing. Today’s announcement should serve as a warning to all airline personnel: HSI New York will not tolerate employees’ attempts to abuse their power for the sake of transporting illicit goods.’
The defendants are charged with various offenses, including conspiracy to commit money laundering and smuggling, and are expected to face significant prison time if convicted. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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