Two Men Charged in
Separate Incidents of Misconduct on Airlines
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A
federal grand jury returned two indictments today and yesterday charging an
Alexandria man and a New York City man in separate incidents of criminal
conduct aboard aircraft arriving at Washington Dulles International
Airport.
According to the
indictment filed today, on December 2, 2021, Elias Fethamlk, 40, knowingly
interfered with a flight attendant’s duties by disregarding the flight
attendant’s instructions and assaulting the flight attendant while on board
an Ethiopian Airlines flight traveling from Dublin, Ireland to Dulles
International Airport.
Fethamlk is
charged with one count of interference with flight crew members and
attendants, and one count of simple assault in the special aircraft
jurisdiction of the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty
of 20 years in prison.
A separate
indictment filed yesterday charges Ivan Lopez, Jr., age 26, with sexually
assaulting another passenger onboard a commercial flight
According to court
documents, it is alleged that Lopez was a passenger on a commercial flight
from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport to Washington Dulles
International Airport on December 24, 2021. During the flight, the
passenger seated next to Lopez fell asleep. The indictment alleges that she
awoke to Lopez repeatedly rubbing her right breast. When the passenger
opened her eyes, she allegedly observed Lopez leaning over her and his
right hand was placed on her right breast. The passenger allegedly yelled
at Lopez and he moved to the back of the aircraft, where he allegedly
admitted to a flight attendant that he sexually assaulted the woman.
Lopez is charged
with abusive sexual contact aboard an aircraft in flight. If convicted, he
faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
Actual sentences
for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal
district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account
the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber,
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael Glasheen,
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism
Division, made the announcement.
Special Assistant
U.S. Attorney Caylee Campbell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Lowe are
prosecuting the case against Fethamlk. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
Rachel L. Rothberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum are
prosecuting the case against Lopez.
A copy of this
press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for
the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information
are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District
of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22 cr 006 and Case No.
1:22 cr 10.
|
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar
Merk: Bare medlemmer av denne bloggen kan legge inn en kommentar.