IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Former TSA agent convicted for tricking woman into showing breasts at LAX

The woman said he told her he had to look inside her bra to ensure she wasn't hiding anything and had her hold her pants away from her waist for a check.
/ Source: The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A former Transportation Security Administration agent who was accused of tricking a traveler into showing her breasts as she went through security at Los Angeles International Airport pleaded no contest Friday to false imprisonment, authorities said.

Johnathon Lomeli entered the plea to a felony count and was sentenced to 60 days in county jail, 52 classes addressing sexual compulsion and two years of probation, California's attorney general's office announced.

Lomeli was also barred from working as a security guard.

Lomeli was charged with using fraud or deceit to falsely imprison the woman in June 2019.

The woman told investigators that Lomeli told her he had to look inside her bra to ensure she wasn't hiding anything, had her hold her pants away from her waist for a check, and then said he would take her to a private room for further security screening, prosecutors said.

But when they were alone on an elevator, Lomeli told the woman he could perform the screening there and ordered her to lift her shirt and show her breasts, then looked down her pants, she said.

Lomeli then told the woman she was free to go and added that she had nice breasts, authorities said.