A 34-year-old Canadian flight attendant, Dallas Pokornik, has pleaded guilty in a federal court to wire fraud and posing as a commercial pilot, enjoying over 200 free flights across the U.S.

The Toronto-based flight attendant was arrested in Panama and extradited to the U.S.

He was charged by the Homeland Security Investigations District of Hawaii and faces charges including wire fraud and also posing as a commercial pilot under pretences to get hundreds free trips from three different airlines based in the U.S. between 2020 and 2024.

Mr Pokornik pleaded guilty to charges and has agreed to pay the three airlines he duped as part of his plea.

CJ Ammons, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge, said, “Dallas Pokornik’s guilty plea is a testament to the seamless collaboration between federal and internal authorities.”

He added that the 34-year-old “took advantage of travel security protocols for his own benefit, and he will now face the consequences of his actions.”  

A U.S. lawyer, Ken Sorenson, said, “Travel security protocols help keep our citizens and visitors safe, and anyone who breaches those protocols should expect to be brought to justice. We thank our law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations and abroad for helping us hold this fraudster accountable.”

The sentencing for the case would be held on December 8 as Mr Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison, including a fine up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.