BOSTON, Mass. - A Chelsea man was indicted for allegedly impersonating a federal air marshal.

ABDIRAHMAN Y. HASSAN, 31, who was arrested on March 1, 2011, has been charged with two counts of falsely impersonating a United States Air Marshal and one count of making false statements. According to the criminal complaint issued in this case, HASSAN is employed by Delta Airlines as a “ramp worker” and has been so employed for approximately 10 years and has never been employed as a U.S. Air Marshal.

According to the criminal complaint, on or about Dec. 30, 2010, HASSAN was involved in a motor vehicle accident in his personal vehicle, and soon thereafter an appraisal was obtained of the damage by an insurance adjuster. It is alleged that on Jan. 26, 2011, HASSAN’s motor vehicle was brought to Eagle Hill Auto Body where it was determined that supplemental damage was present on HASSAN’s vehicle that had not been present when the insurance adjuster originally took photographs of the vehicle. Eagle Hill Auto Body contacted HASSAN by telephone, while in the presence of the insurance adjuster, and asked HASSAN about the additional damage to his vehicle. It is alleged the insurance adjuster overheard HASSAN stating, “I would never do that, I'm a U.S. Marshal.”

On Feb. 4, 2011, HASSAN was interviewed at his residence by an investigator from his insurance company. HASSAN allegedly greeted the investigator while wearing a pistol holstered on his hip. It is alleged that HASSAN stated, “I'm a U.S. Air Marshal and I have to catch a flight at noon today because I'm going to Detroit.” During the interview, it is alleged that HASSAN stated that he was a U.S. Air Marshal and related that he has been so employed for nine years. It is further alleged that, following the interview, the investigator was contacted by HASSAN numerous times via telephone, wherein HASSAN inquired about the status of his car claim stating, “I need to move this along, I’m very busy flying all over the country as a U.S. Air Marshal, I need my car.”

If convicted, HASSAN faces up to three years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release on each of the impersonation counts and up to five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release on the false statement count.

U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in
Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division and John Chamberlain, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Air Marshal Service - Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.

 

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