Oh, the irony of trusting an airline employee with our travel happiness only to find out they’ve been pilfering like it’s a side gig. Brooklyn Jones, a former Southwest Airlines customer service agent, stands accused of a crime that only fuels our collective distrust—a snarky thumbs up to our skepticism. Three months into his job, Jones allegedly managed to print and pocket $79,000 in travel vouchers for his own use and profit.
Alleged Theft and Immediate Confession
Brooklyn Jones worked at St. Louis Lambert International Airport from August 2023 through September 2023. During this period, he allegedly printed $79,000 in vouchers using the names of previous passengers. Despite claiming innocence in court, Jones had already confessed in a written statement to police, expressing he would hand over any unused vouchers. Indeed, Jones admitted to police that he printed $79,000 worth of travel vouchers.
Conduct of the In-House Investigation
An internal investigation led to the exposure of Jones’ misconduct shortly after the thefts allegedly commenced. Southwest Airlines found Jones had used his position to access passenger records and create fake vouchers, pretending they were compensation for customer service issues. An amateur magician couldn’t have pulled off a less believable trick.
Discovery of the Misappropriated Vouchers
Jones led officers to his employee locker, where 119 vouchers worth approximately $36,300 were discovered. This discovery was part of his promise to relinquish unused vouchers. A written confession backed up this claim.
Court Proceedings and Anticipated Outcome
Despite confessing, surprisingly, Jones entered a not guilty plea during his court appearance. His attorney contended the charges relied too heavily on third-party statements, questioning the robustness of the case.
Jones is expected back in court on September 16. Southwest Airlines has stated that Jones is no longer with the company and deferred comments to law enforcement.
Sources
- Southwest Airlines agent allegedly printed off $79,000 in vouchers using passengers’ names
- Southwest Airlines agent charged with stealing $79K in flight vouchers
