Major U.S. Airline Pilot Who Holds Global Entry Card Charged With Bulk Cash Smuggling, Making False Statements

NEWARK, N.J. – A United States commercial airline pilot who holds a U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry Card was arrested yesterday morning after allegedly attempting to smuggle $195,736 in undeclared currency into the country, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. 

Anthony Warner, 55, of Dallas, Texas, was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport by special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations after arriving as a passenger on a flight from Mumbai, India. He is charged by complaint with one count of bulk cash smuggling and one count of making false statements. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven C. Mannion and was released on $100,000 bond.

According documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Global Entry is a CBP program that allows expedited clearance upon arrival in the United States for pre-approved travelers who have been determined to be low-risk. Pre-approval must be completed before enrollment, and the process includes a background check and an in-person interview. At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingers on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and complete a Customs verification. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.

When Warner arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport, the Global Entry computer system was not functioning, so he presented his customs declaration to a CBP officer.   CBP’s screening determined that he was carrying a laptop-style bag that contained $195,736 in United States currency wrapped in newspaper.  He also had 10 rings, four sets of earrings, and other assorted jewelry of undetermined value. 

Warner’s possession of currency was contrary to the statements in his customs declaration and verbal statements

Count One of the complaint carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of $250,000. Count two of the complaint, bulk cash smuggling, carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and forfeiture of all property involved in the offense.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Terence S. Opiola, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the leadership of Robert E. Perez, Director, New York Field Office, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara F. Merin of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.

Defense counsel: Jeffrey Altman and Steven Altman Esqs., New Brunswick, New Jersey