Four flight attendants exploited “their privileges as airline employees” to smuggle “millions of dollars of drug money” out of New York City to the Dominican Republic, federal authorities announced on Wednesday.

The suspects utilized the "Known Crewmember (KCM)" lane at John F. Kennedy International Airport, granting them expedited and X-ray-free passage through security. This enabled them to transport large sums of cash without detection, authorities said.

"In effect, given these loosened security procedures, KCM privileges allow flight attendants to bypass airport security with large quantities of cash without that cash being seized," a Homeland Security Investigations special agent wrote in the complaint.

The defendants, Charlie Hernandez, 42; Sarah Valerio Pujols, 24; Emmanuel Torres, 34; and Jarol Fabio, 35, face various charges related to "unlicensed money transmission," prosecutors stated. They were apprehended on Tuesday, according to a Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson.

Hernandez resides in West New York, New Jersey, while the other three defendants are New York City residents.

The flight attendants are accused of smuggling approximately $8 million in "bulk cash" to the Dominican Republic. "As alleged, 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 employees," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.

In one instance, an informant handed Hernandez $121,215, which was "derived from narcotics trafficking." Hernandez then passed $61,215 to Pujols for transport to the Dominican Republic in December 2019, according to the complaint.

Torres is accused of smuggling at least $1.5 million in drug money to the Dominican Republic from 2015 to 2022, the complaint states. Fabio allegedly smuggled $1.5 million from 2015 to 2023.

Delta Airlines confirmed that two of the defendants are its employees. “Delta has cooperated fully with law enforcement in this investigation and will continue to do so," the airline said in a statement.

An attorney for Pujols confirmed that she is no longer in custody but declined to comment further. A lawyer for Fabio could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday. No attorneys were listed in court records for Hernandez and Torres at the time of the report.

The investigation has shed light on significant vulnerabilities within airport security protocols, particularly the KCM system, which was intended to expedite security checks for trusted airline employees. Authorities are now evaluating the effectiveness and security of this program in preventing illicit activities.

Impact and Legal Proceedings

The defendants face serious charges that could lead to substantial prison sentences if convicted. The case underscores the ongoing challenges in combating drug trafficking and money laundering, particularly through trusted and seemingly secure channels such as the KCM program.

Broader Implications

This incident has broader implications for the airline industry and airport security. The ability of these flight attendants to allegedly move large sums of drug money undetected raises questions about the adequacy of current security measures. It highlights the need for stricter oversight and perhaps a reevaluation of the privileges granted under the KCM program to prevent similar abuses in the future.

Next Steps

Federal authorities will continue to investigate the extent of the smuggling operation and any additional individuals who may be involved. Meanwhile, the airline industry is likely to face increased scrutiny regarding its internal security protocols and the potential for reform to prevent future breaches.

As the legal process unfolds, the outcomes of these cases will be closely watched, both for their impact on the individuals involved and for the broader lessons they may offer about maintaining security and integrity within the aviation sector.