PHILADELPHIA, PA — A former Philadelphia International Airport employee who helped another man slip past security using his credentials has been sentenced to jail time and supervision, federal prosecutors announced.
United States Attorney David Metcalf said Tiriq Henson, 34, of Philadelphia, was sentenced Thursday to nine days in federal custody followed by two years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer.
Henson pleaded guilty in September to a charge of entering a secured airport area in violation of federal security requirements.
According to court filings, the breach occurred on March 9, 2024, when Henson was working as a wheelchair assistant at the airport. Investigators said he aided and abetted the unauthorized entry of an associate, David Easley, by allowing him to use Henson’s security badge and credentials. The move enabled Easley to bypass airport screening entirely and gain access to a boarding area reserved exclusively for screened passengers.
Easley later pleaded guilty to the same offense in July and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the FBI with significant assistance from the Transportation Security Administration and the Philadelphia Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Priya De Souza.
Federal officials emphasized that airport credential misuse poses serious risks to aviation security and is treated as a criminal offense under federal law.
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