US Marshal accused of sexually abusing woman during flight from NYC to London

A U.S. deputy sheriff traveling to London to help extradite a criminal defendant was detained by British authorities after he was accused of sexually abusing a female passenger aboard a Delta flight, four law enforcement officials said. obey the law.

The federal marshal was one of two agents traveling on a Delta flight from New York City’s JFK airport to London when the woman complained to the flight crew that she had been touched inappropriately during the flight, sources said.

A Delta Airlines spokesperson confirmed that there was an incident on board the flight.

“Due to unruly passenger behavior during the flight, Delta Flight 1, JFK to London Heathrow, was met by local police upon landing and Delta is cooperating with their investigation,” the spokesperson said.

Two law enforcement sources said the two federal marshals had been drinking during the flight. The second marshal would be sent back to New York on Wednesday night without facing any charges.

Both agents are assigned to the Eastern District of New York and were headed to London to bring back a suspect wanted in Brooklyn on federal fraud-related charges.

A statement from London’s Metropolitan Police said its officers at Heathrow airport were informed that the constable had “sexually assaulted other passengers and crew” on board the flight, adding that the 39-year-old man was arrested under suspected sexual assault and remains in custody.

A spokesperson for the US Marshals Service said they were aware that the officer “engaged in alleged serious misconduct while intoxicated on a return flight from New York City.” The spokesperson added that the Marshals Service is co-operating with UK authorities and other agencies regarding the alleged incident.

“The United States Marshals Service takes any allegations of misconduct by its employees seriously. The employees’ alleged actions do not reflect the professionalism of the thousands of USMS employees or their core values,” the statement reads. .