Two Louisiana men are accused of filing false claims for lost luggage, costing airlines more than $300,000.
Donmonick Martin, 29, and Pernell Anthony Jones, 31, face federal charges related to their conspiracy to defraud airlines.
The two have been scamming airlines since 2015. They have submitted fraudulent lost luggage claims to airlines including Alaska, American, Southwest, JetBlue, and United.
The duo has submitted more than 180 fake claims, requesting over $550,000 in reimbursement. They have successfully received over $300,000.
According to court documents, the scam began with Jones in 2015. He used a fake identity and pre-loaded gift cards to purchase flights. He would then “obtain a ticket for a checked bag even though he would not check a bag.” Sometimes he brought a bag with the intention of making a false claim.
After landing, Jones would make a fraudulent claim with the airline, requesting compensation. Martin is accused of doing the same on four separate occasions in 2020, out of Louis Armstrong International Airport.
To maximize the amount they would be paid, the two would “provide the commercial airlines with a false list of high-value items that were purportedly in the lost baggage.” This ensured the airlines would pay the highest reimbursement, which is $3,500.
