Four flight attendants based in the New York City area have been charged with smuggling $8 million in drug money to the Dominican Republic during an alleged years-long scheme.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said Jarol Fabio, 35, New York City; Charlie Hernandez, 42, of West New York, New Jersey; Sarah Valerio Pujols, 42, of the Bronx and Emmanuel Torres, 34, of Brooklyn, were arrested earlier this week on charges related to the illegal transportation of money and for breaking airport security protocols to move the cash.
Ms. Pujols is also facing an additional smuggling charge.
“These flight attendants smuggled millions of dollars of drug money and law enforcement funds that they thought was drug money from the United States to the Dominican Republic over many years by abusing their privileges as airline employee[s],” U.S. Attorney Damien Williams said in a press release. “Today’s charges should serve as a reminder to those who break the law by helping drug traffickers move their money that crime doesn’t pay.”
Prosecutors said the suspects used their status as “Known Crewmembers” to bypass rigorous security checks at JFK International Airport and move large sums of cash. Delta Airlines confirmed that two of the defendants worked for it, NBC News reported.
Mr. Torres smuggled at least $1.5 million in drug money to the Dominican Republic from 2015 to 2022, according to court documents, while Mr. Fabio transported $1.5 million from 2015 to 2023.
Mr. Hernandez is accused of moving $2.5 million in narcotics cash between 2014 and 2019, and prosecutors said Ms. Pujols smuggled at least $1.5 during that same time period.
The attorney’s office said two cooperating witnesses — who were both arrested in October 2021 on money laundering charges — were used to set up the defendants.
One of the cooperating witnesses gave Mr. Hernandez $121,215 in drug money in the Bronx in December 2019. Mr. Hernandez then divided the drug money in half with Ms. Pujols and both moved the cash during their next trips to the Dominican Republic.
The FBI said some of the drug money was tied to fentanyl sales.
Mr. Torres and Mr. Fabio could both face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Mr. Hernandez could face 20 years behind bars if convicted, and Ms. Pujols could spend up to 25 years behind bars if she’s convicted.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.