New York City Man Pleads Guilty to Entering an Aircraft in Violation of Security Requirements

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Elvir Ardolic, 35, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to entering an aircraft in violation of security requirements. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on June 23, 2012, the defendant was a passenger on a JetBlue flight originating from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, New York, destined for Chicago. Ardolic consumed an excessive amount of alcohol prior to boarding the flight and was intoxicated when he entered the aircraft. During the flight, the defendant demanded to be served alcoholic beverages and when the flight crew refused, Ardolic became disruptive. Due to the defendant’s behavior, the flight was diverted to the Buffalo International Airport so that Ardolic could be removed from the flight.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Christopher M. Piehota, Special Agent in Charge; and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police, under the direction of Chief George Gast.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 20, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Schroeder.