– used stolen identity to work as flight attendant
Florida (NBC Miami) – An American Eagle flight attendant was arrested yesterday and accused of stealing another man’s identity to fly around the world, Miami-Dade police said.
Jophan Porter, 38, said to be illegal from Guyana, is charged with identity fraud and is currently in Miami-Dade County jail.
Porter assumed the identity of Anthony Frair, who lives in New York and claims not to know the man, authorities claim.
In light of supposed tighter federal screening rules after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the FBI and other agencies are trying to figure out how Porter was able to beat the enhanced screening and get hired as a flight attendant.
American Eagle and American Airlines are owned by the same parent company.
“American Eagle is actively involved in the investigation with law enforcement authorities, including the FBI. Further information on this case should come from law enforcement authorities who are handling the investigation,” an American Airlines statement read.
Porter was arrested at Miami International Airport and had several drivers’ licenses, a passport and a Department of Transportation identification card with the name Anthony Frair on them, an arrest report stated.
Porter had just got back to Miami from a London flight and was scheduled to work a flight to Dallas, sources said.
The real Anthony Frair was trying to apply for food stamps when he discovered the fraud and alerted authorities, the report said.