January 20th 2024.
According to a report from CNN, a flight attendant for American Airlines named Estes Carter Thompson III has been arrested and charged with federal child pornography charges. The 36-year-old was taken into custody in Lynchburg, Virginia on January 18th, where he faces charges of attempted sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor.
Jodi Cohen, the special agent in charge of the FBI in Boston, was quick to condemn Thompson's alleged actions, stating, "What Mr. Thompson is accused of doing is absolutely disgraceful and, in our opinion, premeditated, as this behavior took place on multiple flights."
The incident in question took place back in September during a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to Boston. It is alleged that Thompson directed a 14-year-old girl to use the first-class lavatory, where he had hidden his iPhone in order to secretly record her. The girl discovered red stickers with phrases like "INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT" and "SEAT BROKEN" under the lid of the toilet seat.
As the news release states, "It is alleged that beneath these red stickers, Thompson had concealed his iPhone in order to record a video." After taking pictures of the stickers and the hidden phone, the girl reported the incident to her parents, who then informed the flight attendants. The pilot was notified upon arrival in Boston, and the girl's father confronted Thompson, who locked himself in the restroom for several minutes. It is suspected that he may have been trying to delete evidence from his phone.
A subsequent search of Thompson's suitcase revealed 11 stickers similar to the ones found in the lavatory. In addition, the police found four recordings on his iCloud account that depicted minors between the ages of 7 and 14 using the restroom on the plane, as well as photos of a 9-year-old and images of child pornography that were generated by artificial intelligence.
American Airlines was quick to remove Thompson from service following the incident, stating, "We take these allegations very seriously. They are not in line with our company's values or our main mission of taking care of people. We have been fully cooperating with law enforcement during their investigation, as the safety and security of our customers and team are of the utmost importance to us."
Thompson will remain in custody until his court date in the Western District of Virginia, after which he will face federal court in Boston. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison for attempted sexual exploitation of children and up to 20 years for possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. Both charges also carry the possibility of supervised release, fines of up to $250,000, and restitution. This case highlights the airline's commitment to the safety and security of its passengers, with a promise of full cooperation during the ongoing investigation.
In a related story, a jury recently found singer R. Kelly guilty on charges of child pornography and sex abuse. The post detailing Thompson's case serves as a reminder of the gravity of these types of crimes and the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
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