A Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania resident was sentenced on April 7 following a guilty plea to theft on an aircraft, according to United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. Jaymer Ferrell, age 23, received one year of supervised release that includes 90 days of home detention and a $250 fine.
The case highlights the consequences of criminal behavior aboard commercial flights and underscores law enforcement’s commitment to protecting airline passengers.
Court information showed that on April 9, 2025, Allegheny County Police responded to reports of an unruly passenger vaping during a flight from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. A flight attendant reported seeing Ferrell vaping and rummaging through several bags in the overhead bins. The attendant suspected that Ferrell had stolen items from other passengers’ luggage during the hours-long trip.
When the plane landed at Pittsburgh International Airport, authorities took Ferrell into custody based on an outstanding warrant. Officers found him carrying a backpack containing another passenger’s wallet as well as debit and credit cards.
United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence after hearing these details in federal court. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted the case.
Rivetti said he commended both the Allegheny County Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation for their roles in investigating and prosecuting this incident.
