Former airline employee sentenced for trying to smuggle meth onto commercial flights at DFW Airport

A former airline crew chief was sentenced Friday to 16 years and eight months in federal prison after he admitted that he worked with a group of people to bypass security at DFW International Airport to smuggle what he thought was methamphetamine onto commercial flights.

Nelson Pabon, 48, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Pabon convinced undercover agents that he could sneak the drugs onto commercial flights because he knew when canine baggage sweeps would come through the airport.

He admitted that he helped smuggle a fake substance that he thought was meth onto at least six flights to Newark, N.J., between August 2016 and May 2018, according to the release. He also considered bringing inert explosives on the planes as well, the release states.

“The defendants exploited their employee access for personal gain and jeopardized the safety of airline travelers,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno of the Dallas field office said in a news release. “Our citizens expect all airports to be safe and secure. We will remain vigilant and investigate anyone who attempts to compromise aviation security.”

Pabon is one of 12 people charged in the plot. Baggage handlers Benitez Matienzo, 46, and Michael Alexis Riviera Vasquez, 22, were sentenced Friday to 45 months and 48 months in federal prison, respectively, on the same charges.

Seven other people have already been sentenced on the same charges and will serve 12 to 97 months in prison.