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Press Release

Man Pleads Guilty To Interference with Flight Crew

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that RODNEY JAMES, age 47, a resident of Phoenix City, Alabama, pled guilty to a one-count indictment for interference with a flight crew, in violation of Title 49, United States Code, Section 46504.

According to court records, on November 14, 2018, Rodney James interfered with a flight crew, travelling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Los Angeles, California, by being disruptive, yelling loudly, refusing to sit down, aggressively pursuing a flight crew member across the cabin, and threatening the flight crew, all causing the aircraft to be diverted to New Orleans.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney G. Dall Kammer, Supervisor of the General Crimes Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.

Updated July 26, 2019

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