According to the authorities, the flight attendants stole over $8 million in total between 2014 and 2017. Tuesday saw the arrests of Emmanuel Torres, Jarol Fabio, Charlie Hernandez, and Sarah Valerio Pujols. Fox News reported that they are facing felony charges for running an unauthorized money transfer company and breaking rules related to airport security. Charges of conspiracy also apply to Hernandez and Pujols. The arrests came after a multi-year investigation into a money laundering organization, according to an indictment. According to CBS News, prosecutors said that a private informant who had been collaborating with Homeland Security had given the attendants money to smuggle into the Dominican Republic.
TSA-approved airline staff are exempt from X-rays at checkpoints thanks to the Known Crewmember program. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo stated in a statement, “This investigation has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the airline security industry and has illuminated methods that narcotics traffickers are using.” According to NBC, Delta has verified that two of the attendants were workers for the company. According to the airline, it is helping the inquiry in every way.