Pearland Man Pleads Guilty to Fake TWIC Card Scam

Jacob Charles Travis, a 32-year-old man from Pearland, Texas, pleaded guilty Thursday to attempting to infiltrate a heavily secured Westlake petrochemical plant using a counterfeit Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC card). The brazen scheme, aimed at gaining unauthorized access to perform contract work, unraveled within days as security personnel grew suspicious and law enforcement moved in.

Travis appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay, admitting to one count of fraudulent possession or use of an official pass. The plea, pending final approval by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi, stems from two failed attempts to enter the facility on May 23 and May 24, 2016. Each time, security guards raised red flags about the legitimacy of his credentials, prompting Travis to abandon entry before verification could be completed.

On May 26, 2016, federal agents took Travis into questioning. He quickly confessed: he had purchased the fake TWIC card specifically to bypass security protocols at the plant, which is regulated under the Transportation Security Act. Such facilities require all workers to present valid, government-issued TWIC cards—a safeguard meant to protect critical infrastructure from unauthorized access.

The Westlake facility, a high-value petrochemical site, operates under strict federal oversight due to the hazardous materials and operations within. Unauthorized entry isn’t just trespassing—it’s a direct threat to national security and public safety. Travis’s actions triggered a swift investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, which specializes in maritime and transportation security breaches.

Now facing the consequences, Travis could be sentenced to up to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The stakes are high, and the message is clear: tampering with homeland security credentials is a felony that federal prosecutors will not tolerate.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 9, 2017. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth is handling the prosecution. If convicted, Travis will join a growing list of individuals federally charged for exploiting vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure access systems—systems designed to keep danger out, not invite it in.