Worst Passenger of the Week: The Woman Who Robbed Flyers While Returning From “Judge Judy” Appearance
Jeff Edwards May 01, 2015
Every Friday, FlyerTalk looks back at the week’s most charming individuals. While there are always plenty of contenders for our Worst Passenger of the Week award, only one lucky flyer can take home the glory.
Third Place — The Sloppy Smuggler
The first rule of smuggling contraband is to keep a low profile, but the trail of marijuana-reeking liquid leaking from a Bronx man’s checked luggage drew a great deal of attention from authorities at LaGuardia Airport (LGA). A closer inspection of the leaky luggage led to the discovery of 18 pounds of marijuana bundled in plastic along with nearly three ounces of crack cocaine.
The pair of drug-stuffed bags, in turn, led authorities to Kelvin Smith who was patiently waiting for his flight at a US Airways gate when he was arrested. Smith, 55, is facing charges of first degree marijuana possession and second-degree possession of a controlled substance.
If Smith’s alleged smuggling attempt was a sloppy effort, it wasn’t due to a lack of experience. Investigators say that Smith has a rap sheet that includes more than 40 previous drug-related convictions.
The Runner-up — The Ugly American
A Miami bartender who took a quick trip to London to visit his girlfriend ended up seeing much more of Europe than he planned after his outrageous behavior caused his flight home to divert to Shannon Airport (SNN) shortly after takeoff from Gatwick Airport (LGW).
It wasn’t long after Jody Bochner, 28, left his girlfriend behind in London, that his bachelor antics caught up with him. Unfortunately for his fellow passengers on a Thursday Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL)-bound Norwegian Air flight, Bochner’s new found freedom caused big headaches for everyone involved.
Soon after the flight departed, a member of the cabin crew noticed what appeared to be cigarette smoke coming from the lavatory. It turns out Bochner was sneaking a clandestine puff on his e-cigarette. The boorish American loudly took exception to not being allowed to use the device. His disorderly and aggressive conduct only got worse from there, culminating with Bochner allegedly attempting to hit a flight attendant.
The out-of-control man eventually had to be handcuffed and the captain made an unscheduled stop at SNN to remove the problem passenger. In his defense, the bachelor-gone-wild told an Irish court he had been drinking before boarding in order to help him sleep on the transatlantic flight and he had no recollection of his bad behavior.
The Winner — The Woman Even Judge Judy Couldn’t Reform
Fans of reality TV shows will know that Judge Judy is capable of delivering a lecture in her “courtroom” that can often make even the boldest and brashest litigants cower and promise to change their dishonest ways. It seems this Worst Passenger of the Week, however, may have slipped through the cracks of television justice.
When items started going missing on an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), suspicion eventually fell on Bronx resident Melissa Perez, 26, who was returning home after appearing in Judge Judy’s courtroom.
Midway through the cross-country journey, a flight attendant enlisted passengers’ help in locating her missing iPad. This led to another passenger reporting Perez behaving suspiciously and noticing items missing from her own purse. A discarded iPad cover and the flight attendant’s missing tote were soon discovered under nearby seats.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police, who met the plane when it landed at JFK, say that a search found the missing iPad in a carry-on bag belonging to Perez. Police also report finding the other passenger’s bankcard and passport hidden in Perez’s underwear along with approximately 10 grams of marijuana.
Perez is now scheduled to appear in a real life courtroom where authorities say she is facing charges including grand larceny and possession of stolen property.
[Photos: Port Authority Police Department, The Irish Independent]
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Were the passport and drugs in her underwear in the carry-on or on her? If the latter, how were they found?
Wirunner, She is a retired judge from NY, but the show is actually filmed in LA. I know this because a few years ago I saw a news report about an earthquake that hit Southern California during a show taping.
I think that Judge Judy should hear her case in NY. I mean it is set there right? ;)
Watch when Judge Judy "blows her lid off"... Makes for good "reality TV".
Always been one of my worst fears, having my passport stolen inflight. Glad the FA's and other pax's belongings were recovered.