Airline Employee Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Tinisha Tucker Anthony, 28, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification documents. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten stated that the defendant arranged for a birth certificate card to be issued by the City of Buffalo which contained the fingerprints and photograph of Derek Frank, and the name of another person, namely her stepson. In addition, Anthony used her position as a customer service representative for U.S. Airways at the Raleigh-Durham Airport to arrange for Derek Frank to fly between Buffalo, New York and Phoenix, Arizona, using the birth certificate card in the name of a her stepson.

This marks the third conviction of an individual involved in this criminal conspiracy. On August 26, 2011, Minetta Walker, a former behavior detection officer with the Transportation Security Administration, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. In addition, Regina McCullen, a former City of Buffalo employee, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification documents.

The plea is the result of an investigation by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; Transportation Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, under the direction of Federal Security Director, Derek DePietro; Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of John P. Gilbride, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Division; NFTA Transit Police, under the direction of Chief George Gast, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of James C. Spero.

Sentencing for defendant Tucker Anthony is scheduled for January 12, 2012 at 12:30 p.m., before Judge Arcara.