The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida said Tuesday that a man had defrauded 120 free flights over several years by pretending to be a flight attendant for four different airlines.
On June 5, Tiron Alexander, 35, was found guilty of wire fraud and entering an airport’s restricted area under false pretenses.
According to federal authorities, Alexander used an airline carrier’s website to schedule complimentary trips that were exclusively accessible to pilots and flight attendants between 2018 and 2024.
During the application procedure, candidates had to supply their badge number, employer, and date of hire.
According to the press statement from the prosecution, Alexander traveled 34 times with that airline while submitting around 30 different badge numbers, feigning employment with seven other airlines, and claiming to be a flight attendant.
The situation was looked upon by the Transportation Security Administration.
“The evidence at trial also showed that Alexander posed as a flight attendant on three other airline carriers,” prosecutors stated. “Ultimately, Alexander booked more than 120 free flights by falsely claiming to be a flight attendant.”
Since November 2015, Alexander had been employed by an airline with its headquarters in Dallas, according to the indictment that was filed in October. However, he had never held the position of a pilot or flight attendant.
It was stated in a statement that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was satisfied with the result.
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“While Alexander was able to board flights by fraudulently obtaining a boarding pass, he underwent all applicable TSA security procedures, including ID verification and physical screening, and did not pose a threat to other airline passengers,” according to the Transportation Security Administration.
“The Transportation Security Administration(TSA) will continue to support the prosecution of those who break air travel laws and will continue to be dedicated to the safety of the flying public.”
The indictment states that the maximum term for wire fraud is twenty years in jail, and the maximum sentence for entering the secure airport areas under false pretenses is ten years. Both crimes carry a limit of three years of supervised release and a fine of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
On August 25th, Alexander is scheduled to hear his sentence.
