( CNN)– A female was sentenced to 24 months of probation in United States District Court for Arizona on Tuesday for interfering with flight crew members, a Class C felony offense, aboard an American Airlines airplane in 2021.
In addition to probation, Leeza S. Rodriguez was bought by the court to pay $9,123 in restitution to American Airlines Business Security in addition to a $100 unique evaluation.
The court figured out that Rodriguez did not have the capability to pay a fine, and that was waived.
As part of her probation, Rodriguez needs to take part in a drug abuse treatment program as advised by a probation officer and accept drug abuse screening.
Rodriguez’s lawyer, Melinda Kovacs, did not have a discuss Tuesday’s sentencing.
Rodriguez’s co-defendant in the occurrence, Kelly Pichardo, was sentenced in September.
What occurred aboard flight 776
The 2 were taking a trip in very first class on American Airlines flight 776 from Dallas to Los Angeles on February 24, 2021, when the occurrence took place.
The flight rerouted to Phoenix so that the 2 might be gotten rid of from the airplane.
An indictment charged that Pichardo and Rodriguez interfered with a flight crew member by attacking a crew member while the airplane remained in flight.
Rodriguez was likewise charged with attacking a passenger, according to the indictment. Pichardo was charged with attacking a various passenger.
Both accuseds wound up pleading guilty to one count of interfering with a flight crew member.
Pichardo was sentenced in September to 4 months in jail followed by 36 months of monitored release. Pichardo was likewise bought to pay $9,123 in restitution to American Airlines.
In a press release revealing Pichardo’s sentencing, the Justice Department called the habits “rowdy and daunting.”
Rowdy passenger habits reached a record level in 2021
About 1,100 examinations and 350 enforcement actions were started in 2021.
At the end of 2021, the Justice Department promised to focus on prosecution of criminal offenses on business aircrafts.
As for 2022, it revealed a significant enhancement in the variety of occurrences reported: 2,359 rowdy passenger reports had actually been logged since December 15, with 823 examinations started.
While the variety of occurrences reported and examinations started dropped in 2022, there were more enforcement cases– 553– started.
Eighty cases in 2022 had actually been described the FBI for criminal evaluation since December 15, according to FAA figures.