For Immediate Release: May 22, 2008

ANAHEIM RESIDENT ARRESTED AFTER SURRENDERING TO FBI ON CHARGES OF ASSAULT AND INTERFERENCE WITH A FLIGHT CREW WHICH OCCURRED ON BOARD A FLIGHT FROM HONG KONG TO LAX ON APRIL 23RD

A man who allegedly assaulted an airline employee and whose general abusive behavior interfered with a United Airlines flight crew in April was in court today to face charges in connection with the incident which took place while the plane was in the air, announced Salvador Hernandez, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, and Thomas P. O’Brien, the United States Attorney in Los Angeles. James Allen Cameron, 49, of Anaheim, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday and he surrendered today. Cameron allegedly had to be restrained in his seat by passengers and crew members during the flight. A grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment on May 20th which charged Cameron with one count of Interference with a Flight Crew, a violation of Title 49, Section 46504, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, and one count of assault, a violation of Title 49, Section 113 (a) (4), which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison. Cameron was afforded an initial appearance in U.S. District Court today and posted $50,000 bond. An arraignment has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 27th. Under Title 49, as well as Title 18, of the U.S. Code, the FBI has primary jurisdiction for investigations into criminal acts or other violations of the federal code that occur on all aircraft arriving to the United States (foreign and domestic carriers), as well as U.S. carriers flying outbound from the United States. This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Customs Border Protection and the Los Angeles Airport Police Department, and will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.   MEDIA CONTACT: FBI: Laura Eimiller: 310 996-3343 U.S. Attorney’s Office: Thom Mrozek: 213 894-6947 ###