New York City Man Sentenced for 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, who was convicted of entering an aircraft in violation of security requirements, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to one year probation with the condition that the defendant does not use drugs or alcohol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that on June 23, 2012, the defendant was a passenger on a JetBlue flight that originated at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, New York, and was destined for Chicago. Ardolic had 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. Because of the defendant’s behavior, the flight was diverted to the Buffalo International Airport so that Ardolic could be removed. As part of the plea, the defendant made restitution to JetBlue for the cost of making an emergency landing in Buffalo.

The sentencing 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; officers with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, under the direction of George W. Gast, Chief of Police; and officers with the Transportation Security Administration, under the direction of Derek (Rick) DiPietro, Federal Security Director.