Couple admits stealing airline tickets

February 14th 2008

Former Southwest Airlines employee, Althea Jackson, and her husband pleaded guilty on charges of wire fraud, admitting to stealing more than 5,000 plane tickets and selling them to friends, co-workers and acquaintances.

The tickets are normally given as "make goods" to passengers and vendors or to passengers who support flight crews, such as providing medical assistance during flights.

Jackson and her husband a former Bexar County court bailiff, James Jackson, then sold the tickets under market value, with several actually going to acquaintances, friends and co-workers at the Bexar County Justice Center. Prosecutors said the defendants sold them for cash from 2000 to 2003. They estimate the scam to be worth as much as $1.8 million.

Each face as much as 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines, but will likely receive 2 1/2 years in prison and a lesser fine due to the plea agreement.