A person who boarded a aircraft from Denmark to Los Angeles with no ticket, visa or passport was sentenced Tuesday to 93 days and ordered to pay $2,174 — the price of a one-way ticket from Copenhagen to Los Angeles, officers mentioned.
However prosecutors and protection attorneys have nonetheless been unable to elucidate why he did it.
Sergey Vladimirovich Ochigava, 46, who in keeping with court docket information has a PhD and no recognized prison document, slipped his means well beyond airport safety in Copenhagen and stowed away on a aircraft for a greater than 12-hour flight on Nov. 4.
In keeping with prosecutors, Ochigava entered an access-controlled terminal at Copenhagen Airport on Nov. 3 by following one other traveler and easily mimicking the movement of scanning a cross. When he was noticed by officers, he was ordered to remain in an space of the terminal whereas his visa overstay was resolved.
As a substitute, in keeping with court docket information, Ochigava on Nov. 4 adopted a surge of passengers at one of many gates, walked onto Scandinavian Airways Flight SK 931 and took one of many empty seats with out drawing consideration.
The primary time Ochigava — who did maintain Russian and Israeli passports — was questioned about his presence was when he tried to stroll into the business-class part of the aircraft, in keeping with court docket information. Flight attendants questioned Ochigava about his seat, however he as an alternative rotated and sat down in one of many empty seats in coach.
In keeping with court docket information, Ochigava sat in numerous seats, requested for 2 in-flight meals and likewise tried to take a cabin crew member’s chocolate bar throughout the flight.
As soon as he arrived at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport, Ochigava continued to attempt to evade officers.
In keeping with court docket filings, he advised U.S. Customs and Border Safety officers he had forgotten his passport within the airplane.
When he was requested to present officers his flight and private data to look him up, Ochigava gave the false identify of “Sergey Schlomo,” in keeping with court docket information.
It was after brokers have been in a position to look by way of Ochigava’s telephone and located a Russian doc together with his identify that they realized he had boarded the worldwide flight and arrived at Los Angeles with no ticket or passport.
Federal prosecutors had argued for a sentence of six months in jail, arguing that Ochigava had “proven no regret or remorse for his conduct.”
However Ochigava’s attorneys requested U.S. District Decide George H. Wu for a sentence of time served, arguing that the defendant had been in custody since Nov. 4 and had skilled a sequence of “private tragedies.” In consideration for his sentencing, family and friends had shared with the decide letters detailing what they mentioned have been “private difficulties” just lately endured by Ochigava, however the letters have been submitted below seal.
A spokesperson for the U.S. lawyer’s workplace mentioned it was unclear why Ochigava boarded the aircraft to Los Angeles.
His attorneys additionally mentioned Ochigava had no recognized prison historical past.
On Tuesday, Wu sentenced Ochigava for time served, however court docket information additionally point out he might be taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.
Ochigava was additionally ordered to pay $2,174 in restitution to Scandanavian Airways. His attorneys had argued in opposition to the cost of restitution, mentioning that about one-third of the seats in financial system, the place Ochigava sat, have been empty anyway.
