Couple hauled off plane in Milwaukee face numerous charges involving identity theft
Duo from Michigan face numerous charges after prosecutors say they boarded flights with fake drivers licenses
Duo from Michigan face numerous charges after prosecutors say they boarded flights with fake drivers licenses
Duo from Michigan face numerous charges after prosecutors say they boarded flights with fake drivers licenses
As Transportation Security Administration officials prepare for what they predict will be the busiest summer travel season on record, a real-life crime spree quickly came to an end at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport.
Robert Martin and Dallal Farha, both from Michigan, face numerous charges in Milwaukee County involving identity theft after prosecutors say they boarded flights with fake drivers licenses.
Charges were filed Tuesday after the incident on June 6.
TSA officials told WISN 12 News the duo was on a connecting flight in Milwaukee when the arrests happened.
According to court documents, they used fake drivers licenses to get through security at another airport posing as people whose identity they had stolen.
"Well, that is definitely concerning," said Linda Mueller, a passenger traveling through Milwaukee on Thursday.
The couple could have still been on the run if one of them hadn’t dropped their wallet.
Court documents said a flight attendant found it before their flight took off from Milwaukee, and inside were numerous credit cards and gift cards with different names.
Deputies were called and they hauled Martin and Farha off the plane.
"Don’t say anything, babe," Martin is accused of telling Farha. "They have nothing on us."
But investigators said they found papers and a notebook containing other names, dates of birth and social security cards.
Martin was traveling under the name John Smith.
The real John Smith told authorities someone had stolen his identity, ruining his credit.
In a statement to WISN 12 News, a TSA spokesperson said, "The circumstances surrounding this incident remain under review, and the TSA is cooperating with law enforcement on the ongoing investigation."
The TSA is in the process of deploying new technology called Credential Authentication Technology, which officials said will better identify fake or fraudulent IDs.
According to the TSA, 14 airports are currently using the technology.
"It’s still very concerning," said Judith Struble, a passenger. "What if it wasn’t just a couple out there? What if it was someone that was trying to blow up the plane or something?"
The two are expected in court on Monday.