Former Spirit Air employees plead guilty to fraud

July 9, 1:15 PMOrlando Airlines ExaminerHeather Mark

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(Image courtesy Noel back in Zurich, Flickr Creative Commons)

Two former employees of Spirit Airlines and a travel agent pleaded guilty Wednesday on computer fraud charges. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami, the three defendants accessed Spirit Airlines' computer system to illegally obtain tickets and vouchers.

The charges against the ex-Spirit employees Fior Davila, 36, of Pembroke Pines and Orlando Reyes, 39 of Fort Lauderdale, state that they acquired the tickets and vouchers and then sold them to travel agent Luisa Berges, 52, of Boca Raton. Berges then sold the tickets and vouchers to unsuspecting customers.

Sentencing will take place Sept. 16 before U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas in Fort Lauderdale. Davila, Reyes and Berges each face a possible five years in prison, three years probation and fines.

From the U.S. Attorney's Office Southern District of Florida:

According to in-court statements and pleadings filed with the Court, defendants Davila and Reyes were former employees of Spirit Airlines. Defendant Berges was a private travel agent. In 2007, both Davila and Reyes knowingly exceeded their authorized access to Spirit’s computer system, with the intent of defrauding the airline. By exceeding their authorized access to Spirit’s computer system, Davila and Reyes obtained airline tickets and vouchers that did not belong to them. Davila and Reyes provided the tickets and vouchers to defendant Berges, who resold these through her travel agency to unsuspecting customers.

Mr. Sloman commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service. In addition, Mr. Sloman thanked Spirit Airlines for their cooperation in this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Katz.