Summary

On May 5, 2016, Paul S. Perry was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Austin, TX, to 12 months probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for entering an airport area in violation of security requirements. Perry entered the Austin Bergstrom International Airport in possession of property containing hazardous material, namely, a generator that contained a small quantity of gasoline, intending that it be transported via an air carrier from Austin to Utah.

In May 2014, Perry was informed by Southwest Airlines personnel at Austin Bergstrom International Airport that he could not check a cardboard box, which contained a laptop and a gas powered generator. Gasoline is a hazardous material and is a prohibited item for checked baggage on commercial passenger flights. Perry proceeded to the Sky Cap outdoor curb-side check-in area. He again attempted to check the cardboard box as checked baggage after misrepresenting its contents to airport personnel. After being checked, TSA personnel screening the cardboard box discovered it contained a gas generator that was approximately half full of fuel.

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with assistance from FAA Security.