Former airline worker pleads guilty to free flights scam
A former Mesa Airlines employee is facing a long stretch in prison for defrauding Spirit Airlines.
After being fired from Mesa Airlines, Hubbard Bell managed with the help of others, to gain unauthorized access to Mesa Airlines’ employee database.
He accessed names, dates of hire, and worker identification numbers and used this data to make fake Mesa employee ID cards.
Bell from Houston, TX admitted he then sold the fake ID cards so others could travel for free on Spirit Airlines domestic flights as a supposed airline industry employee.
Bell also got 34 free airline tickets for himself fraudulently according to court documents.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The 32-year old faces up to 20 years in prison and has a sentencing hearing in December.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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