LOS ANGELES: – A Diamond Bar man, Mohammad Jawad Ansari, 50, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for committing an act of abusive sexual contact on a flight from Cleveland to Los Angeles in February 2020. Ansari’s actions have sparked discussions about the importance of passenger safety and reporting incidents of in-flight misconduct.
United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha handed down the sentence, which also includes a $33,750 fine, $1,600 in restitution to the victim, a $100 special assessment, and an additional $5,000 special assessment. Furthermore, Ansari has been ordered to register as a sex offender.
Ansari’s conviction followed a four-day trial that concluded on May 9, during which a jury found him guilty of one count of abusive sexual contact.
The incident occurred on February 17, 2020, on a flight from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. Ansari was seated in a window seat in the 10th row, next to the victim, who occupied the middle seat. The victim, who had fallen asleep wearing a dress, awoke to find Ansari’s hand on her inner thigh. The victim promptly reported the incident to a flight attendant, who observed Ansari’s behavior during the remainder of the flight.
In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors argued that Ansari’s actions had caused immediate and lasting harm to the victim. Witnesses testified that the victim sobbed for the remainder of the flight, and she now struggles to sleep during flights due to concerns about her safety.
The FBI, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Airport Police, conducted the investigation into this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel J. Diaz and James A. Santiago from the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section prosecuted the case.
In response to this incident, the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office issued a public service announcement to raise awareness about the issue of sexual assault on airplanes. The announcement encourages victims or their loved ones to report any in-flight sexual misconduct, whether verbal or physical, to a flight attendant and to contact the nearest FBI field office or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/.
This case serves as a reminder that all passengers have the right to a safe and secure flight experience, and individuals who engage in criminal behavior during flights will be held accountable for their actions.
— inputs from Department of Justice US
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