1 July 2004 – LAWFUEL – An Orange County resident surrendered and was taken into custody today on federal charges of attempting to carry a loaded gun and knife onto a flight leaving John Wayne Airport.
Ali Reza Khatami, 65, of Yorba Linda, was named Tuesday in a federal criminal complaint that alleges one count of attempting to carry a concealed dangerous weapon onto an aircraft.
The charge stems from a June 24 incident in which Khatami allegedly attempted to board a United Airline flight from Orange County to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The complaint alleges that a fully-loaded .38-caliber Colt revolver was found in a carry-on bag that Khatami placed through security screening at the airport. The gun was hidden inside an oven mitt.
Officials with the Transportation Security Administration also found a 3.5-inch folding knife in Khatami’s bag. The gun and the knife were found under a folded towel in the carry-on bag.
Khatami is making his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District court in Santa Ana.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The charge of attempting to carry a concealed dangerous weapon onto an aircraft carries a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the Transportation Security Administration.