Former Airline Employee Sentenced in Smuggling Sting at Boston Airport

One of five former airline employees has been sentenced for his role in a money laundering operation at Logan International Airport.

A former JetBlue Airways employee has been sentenced in Boston for smuggling thousands of dollars of drug money through security checkpoints at Logan International Airport (BOS).

Rupert Crossley, 26, was sentenced to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $4,000 in criminal forfeiture, according to a news release from the Massachusetts District Attorney.

Crossley was one of five co-defendants caught in an undercover operation that lasted from August 2012 to March 2013. According to federal officials, Crossley and four others allegedly used airport security credentials to evade TSA checkpoints and smuggle $85,000 from non-secure airport areas, including curbside passenger drop off/pick up and public restrooms near baggage claim. Four of the defendants worked for JetBlue, one for Delta Air Lines.

Crossley waived his indictment and pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and two counts of illegally entering an airport area with intent to commit a felony.

The four other co-defendants were indicted in September 2014 on money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., money laundering and illegally entering an airport area with intent to commit a felony. One of the co-defendants, Anthony Trotman, pleaded guilty in October 2014 to charges of money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and three counts of illegally entering an airport area with intent to commit a felony. Trotman will receive sentencing January 29.

[Photo: JetBlue Airways]