Four flight attendants have found themselves at the center of a major criminal case involving the smuggling of drug money from New York City to the Dominican Republic. These flight attendants, who worked for various international airlines, were caught abusing their special status to facilitate a money laundering operation. On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced that all four had pleaded guilty to their involvement in this illegal activity.
Exploiting Privileges: How They Did It
The defendants, identified as Sarah Valerio Pujols, Charlie Hernandez, Emmanuel Torres, and Jarol Fabio, held positions that came with certain privileges. As flight attendants, they were granted “Known Crewmember” (KCM) status by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This status allowed them to pass through a special security lane at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where they faced much less scrutiny than regular passengers. This privilege was meant to make travel more convenient for airline staff but was exploited by the defendants to smuggle large sums of cash.
These flight attendants were not just transporting any cash—they were moving money that was the direct proceeds of drug trafficking. They received this cash in bulk from a member of a significant money laundering organization (MLO) based in New York City. The money was then smuggled past airport security and flown to the Dominican Republic, where it was handed over to another member of the MLO.
Operation of Flight Attendants
The operation, which had been running under the radar, eventually fell apart when key members of the MLO started cooperating with law enforcement. These cooperating witnesses, referred to as CW-1 and CW-2 in court documents, played a crucial role in exposing the illegal activities of the flight attendants.
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CW-1, who was responsible for handling the bulk cash in New York, and CW-2, who received the money in the Dominican Republic, both began working with authorities. Together, they helped law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), set up sting operations to catch the flight attendants in the act.
During these sting operations, the flight attendants were given funds that they believed were proceeds from drug sales. They followed their usual procedure, smuggling the money out of New York and into the Dominican Republic, where it was intercepted by law enforcement. This marked the beginning of the end for the illegal scheme.
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Each of the four defendants eventually admitted to their role in the crime. Sarah Valerio Pujols was the first to plead guilty, doing so before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald on July 23, 2024. Charlie Hernandez followed suit on July 25, 2024, pleading guilty before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. Emmanuel Torres entered his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave on August 12, 2024, and Jarol Fabio did the same before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on August 13, 2024.
Law Enforcement’s Victory
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of federal and local law enforcement to crack down on money laundering operations connected to narcotics trafficking. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the seriousness of the defendants’ actions, noting that they had abused their privileges as flight attendants to assist drug traffickers. “These guilty pleas show that the sky is not the limit when it comes to law enforcement’s reach,” he stated, underscoring the determination of authorities to pursue criminals no matter where they are.
The flight attendants’ actions have not only landed them in legal trouble but have also drawn attention to the vulnerabilities in the airport security system that can be exploited by those with inside access. Their guilty pleas serve as a warning to others who might consider using their professional positions to engage in illegal activities.
