Federal Air Marshal Accused of Falsifying Military Records for Free Flights
A federal law enforcement officer has been charged with wire fraud for allegedly falsifying military records to receive nearly $70,000 in free or discounted flights. Dior Jay-Jarrett, a Federal Air Marshal with the Department of Homeland Security, was arrested on Thursday and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in New York.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Jay-Jarrett, 29, of Queens, allegedly used falsified military orders to claim extended military leave from a major airline, allowing him to take advantage of free flight benefits. Prosecutors allege that this scheme lasted from 2021 through 2024 and included trips to destinations across the Caribbean, Europe, and Central and South America.
Authorities stated that Jay-Jarrett served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from December 2013 until November 2022. In 2021, while still enlisted, he began working as a baggage handler for an airline, referred to as “Airline-1” in court documents. Shortly thereafter, he submitted what prosecutors say were falsified military deployment orders, securing an eight-month leave from the airline.
In June 2023, Jay-Jarrett allegedly submitted additional falsified documents, securing another military leave period lasting over two years. Despite having retired from the Marine Corps in November 2022, he continued to claim active-duty status, according to the complaint. Prosecutors say he submitted another set of falsified orders in July 2024, providing the same documents he had used the previous year.
As a result, authorities claim, Jay-Jarrett remained eligible for the airline’s employee travel benefits, which included unlimited free flights for himself and companions. Investigators allege he took at least 130 flights, including first-class trips to Los Angeles, London, Dublin, and Las Vegas, as well as multiple trips to Antigua, Aruba, Bermuda, Belize, Mexico, and other international destinations.
During an interview with law enforcement on September 29, 2024, Jay-Jarrett allegedly admitted that he had retired from the military in 2022 without informing the airline and acknowledged submitting falsified documents.
Jay-Jarrett has been charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.
The investigation was conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies. The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that the charge is an allegation, and Jay-Jarrett is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.