Rowdy Plane Passenger En Route To Mardi Gras Convicted

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Having gotten his drink on while waiting for his Jet Blue flight to Mardi Gras in New Orleans in February, Paul Henry Boritzer was in a totally festive mood when he finally boarded the plane. But then the flight attendants had to go and harsh his vibe because he was strolling about the cabin "in a loud and disruptive behavior" ten minutes before take-off. When a flight attendant asked that he return to his seat, he told her he didn't have to follow her rules, because he was a federal air marshal and a U.S. Airway pilot. Lying about that stuff is a no-no, and after the attendant insisted he sit down, Boritzer called her a bitch and asked, "Who do you think you are?" Boritzer remained disruptive throughout the flight, and, according to the Justice Department, threatened a flight attendant who denied him more booze. Needless to say, he didn't make it to Mardi Gras; he was arrested upon arrival and a jury yesterday found him guilty of interfering with a flight crew and impersonating a Federal air marshal. Boritzer will be sentenced in December, and could face a 29 year prison term, a $1 million fine, and the indignity of Will Ferrell portraying him in a movie adaptation.

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By John Del Signore in News on August 21, 2009 11:35 AM

Comments [rss]

Clarice City

Possible 29 years in prison and a million dollar fine for being a beligerant drunk on a flight, but 30 days if you kill someone while driving drunk? At least this guy wasn't driving the plane, imagine if he was in an SUV.

NannyState

I vote for a festive sentencing: the judge should give him a strand of beads for each year he gets. If he gets all 29, he's like King of the krewe!

FJF

Hey air travel is rough. How else can you get through these flights if you're not absolutely blotto?

valeriob

:cough: Jackass :cough:

hotstepper

any tit flashing reported?

CR

Please tell me they tased this guy.

nightenrock

Ironic that this drunk gets convicted and could face 29 years on the day the Lockerbie bomber gets freed after serving less time.

Mr. Shankly

+1

blondeinthecity

I took a 6am flight to NOLA a few winters ago to do some volunteer work... there were people on the flight already drunk. And it wasn't even Mardi Gras, they just started partying that early!

maevemealone

I would probably guess they were STILL drunk rather than already drunk. Why bother going to bed and risk missing a 6am flight?

americaonline

If you're scared, go to church.

Politburo

Guy is obviously an asshole, but 29 years? That's absurd.

ANGRYGOD11

Assuming impersonating a federal marshal is a federal offense, then this guy's in big trouble as there is no parole in the federal prison system.

Kojak

For some reason news organizations (as well as bloggers) like to report the maximums for various charges even though the actual crime wouldn't warrant that much jail time and/or fine. Its a little annoying.

Politburo

I understand that, and I have little reason to think he'll get the maximum. But it still seems excessive that such a penalty is even possible.