PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Georgia man has admitted to federal charges after unlawfully accessing secured areas of Philadelphia International Airport, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf announced this week.
David Easley, 39, entered a guilty plea on Monday before U.S. District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer to one count of evading airport security. Easley, who has no employment history at the airport, faces sentencing on October 28, 2025.
According to court records and statements, the incident occurred on March 9, 2024, when Easley, holding a valid ticket for a flight to Atlanta, used an airport Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge belonging to an employee to bypass standard security protocols. Surveillance footage captured him using the badge and entering a passcode to gain access to a restricted area intended solely for authorized personnel.
By avoiding TSA screening, Easley was able to move from the public ticketing area directly into the secured “sterile” terminal area where passengers await boarding. His unauthorized presence was detected by TSA agents conducting random security inspections designed to intercept prohibited items and prevent unauthorized access.
The case, investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Priya De Souza, spotlights ongoing federal efforts to protect critical transportation infrastructure and uphold aviation security standards.
Easley now awaits sentencing, where he will face the consequences of his deliberate breach of airport security measures.
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