Man posed as a flight attendant for over 100 free flights in case compared to Catch Me If You Can
In a scheme that has drew in comparisons to the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can, a Florida man has been convicted of conning his way into more than 100 free flights.
Tiron Alexander is now facing 30 years behind bars on account of wire fraud and illegally entering an airport's secure zone following his conviction on 5 June.
The 35-year-old posed as a crew member for six years between 2018 and 2024; flying over 120 times for free by using internal ticketing systems designed for pilots and flight attendants - also known as 'non-revenue travel'.
Prosecution team Michael C. Shepherd, Zachary A. Keller and Andres E. Chinchilla say Tiron fraudulently claimed affiliation with at least seven separate airlines - including United, Southwest, Delta, Spirit and American Airlines - to bag the free flights.
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He reportedly booked 34 flights using one airline alone under 30 different employee badge numbers and hire dates, accessing free standby tickets and secure airport sections under false pretences.
His crimes evaded attention for years until the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) got wind of them.
Tiron was indicted in October of last year before being handcuffed in California four months later. Earlier this week, he was found guilty by a Florida federal jury and will be sentenced on 25 August .
The maximum prison sentence for wire fraud is 20 years, while entering secure airport areas can get you up to 10 years behind bars.
"The evidence at trial also showed that Alexander posed as a flight attendant on three other airline carriers," commented prosecutors on Tuesday (June 17). "Ultimately, Alexander booked more than 120 free flights by falsely claiming to be a flight attendant."
The TSA added in a statement: "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.
"TSA remains dedicated to the security of the flying public and will continue to support the prosecution of those who break air travel laws."
The bizarre case has since been compared to the 2002 flick Catch Me If You Can.
Crafted into a splendid slice of cat-and-mouse entertainment by filmmaker Steven Spielberg, the film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken follows the alleged crimes of Frank Abagnale Jr, who logged over two million air miles by impersonating a Pan American World Airways pilot.
According to his 1980 autobiography, which has been questioned over its veracity in recent years, he also slipped into the roles of a Louisiana assistant state attorney general and a Georgia hospital physician without any qualifications.
Topics: Crime, TV and Film
Dan Seddon