Italian Citizen Gets 6 Months In Prison For Disrupting Flight To Philadelphia
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A federal court judge in Philadelphia sentenced an Italian citizen to six moths in prison earlier this week for his admitted disruption of a flight headed to Philadelphia International Airport last month.
35-year-old Massmio Fiorani, of Italy, pleaded guilty to interfering with a U.S. Airway flight crew on a Barcelona to Philadelphia flight on August 7th.
"Mr. Fiorani admitted he did become very belligerent with flight attendants and crew," said Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. "He refused to follow their instructions and, in fact, became verbally and physically threatening towards the attendants on board. As a result, the attendants had to protect the cockpit of the airplane by putting beverage carts in front of the doors and standing guard in front of the door and Mr. Fiorani was handcuffed."
She says the judge spoke to the need to deter others in engaging in this type of serious offense.
Fiorani was sentence to 6 month incarceration --the top of the sentencing guideline range. He was also ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to the airline.
Following his release, Fiorani will have an administrative proceeding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
