Two charged with multi-million pound airline scam
Two men have been charged with defrauding Delta Air Lines of millions of dollars following a decade-long scheme of issuing fraudulent invoices to the airline.
Michael Yedor and Paul Anderson have been indicted of issuing fake invoices for goods and services that were never provided, amounting to an estimated $22 million.
"The longevity and scope of the scheme to defraud Delta is simply astonishing," said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.
"The indictment is an important first step in finally bringing these defendants to justice after so many years of engaging in fraud."
Information presented to the court says former airline employee Anderson approved the payment of invoices supplied by Yedor’s fictitious company Airborne Voice and Data for non-existent services rendered between 2004 and 2013.
The charges allege Anderson took a cut of the proceeds of the fraud.
Each defendant has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and of 96 counts of mail fraud.
The court heard that Anderson was originally employed by Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis and became a Delta employee following the airlines’ merger in 2009.
The defendants allegedly began sending fake invoices to Northwest from 2004 and continued sending them to Delta following the merger.
Investigating officers at the FBI said Delta are cooperating in the continuing
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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