Thomas Jesse Bingham, Assault on a Federal Officer, California 2024

LOS ANGELES – A shocking incident of violence at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has led to the arrest of an Australian national on a federal criminal complaint charging him with assaulting a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer.

Thomas Jesse Bingham, 35, of Melbourne, Australia, is charged with assault on a federal officer. He was arrested Monday at LAX and is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

According to the complaint and affidavit, on March 15, the victim – an on-duty, uniformed TSA officer – was leaving a restroom located in the sterile area connector between Terminals 6 and 7 at LAX. Upon exiting, Bingham – who was then booked on a flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas – approached the victim and accused him of taking his backpack and passport.

Bingham then forcibly assaulted the victim by grabbing the victim’s uniform, pulling the victim’s TSA identification lanyard off his neck, grabbing and pulling the victim’s hair, and pushing him into a glass wall.

The victim later reported experiencing pain in his hand and back and sought medical evaluation.

Airport police arrested Bingham, whose carry-on bag and passport were later located at a restaurant in Terminal 7 that he previously visited.

Bingham later was released from custody and on Monday was arrested at LAX prior to boarding a flight to the United Kingdom.

A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, Bingham would face up to eight years in federal prison.

TSA Office of Law Enforcement / Investigations is investigating this matter with assistance from the Los Angeles Airport Police.

Assistant United States Attorney Eric L. Mackie of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

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