Trending
A Canadian man has pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud after admitting he posed as a commercial airline pilot to obtain hundreds of free flights on three U.S.-based airlines.
According to federal prosecutors, Dallas Pokornik, 34, of Toronto admitted using a fictitious airline employee ID card to secure the flights between January 2020 and Oct. 28, 2024. Prosecutors said Pokornik, a former flight attendant for a Canadian airline, was indicted in October 2025, arrested in Panama and extradited to Hawaii to face the charges.
Under his plea agreement, Pokornik agreed to pay restitution to the three victim airlines.
U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said the case demonstrates that those who exploit travel security protocols will be held accountable. Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge CJ Ammons credited cooperation among U.S. and international law enforcement agencies for the successful prosecution.
Pokornik is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 8 before U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park. He faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a term of supervised release.