GRAND JURY INDICTS ELEVEN IN AIRLINE REFUND SCAM

January 3, 2002

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025

A Denver Grand Jury indicted 11 people today on charges related to the theft and cashing of United Airlines refund drafts. A "refund draft" is a type of check United uses to compensate passengers for inconvenience, such as when a flight is overbooked and passengers are bumped. Charges include violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (racketeering), conspiracy, theft and forgery.

The indictments allege that four employees of United Airlines stole refund drafts from United facilities at Denver International Airport. The indictment charges that those four people then recruited others to negotiate the drafts for them, leading to the other individuals being indicted.

The charges are the result of a joint investigation involving the Denver Police Department, the Denver District Attorney’s Office, and the full cooperation of United Airlines. The investigation began in the Spring of 2000 after United officials became suspicious and turned over the results of an internal investigation to Denver police.

Sean Mooar (DOB: 6-10-67) and Herbie Atencio (DOB: 11-15-68) are both charged with violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (F2), conspiracy (F4), theft (F3) and multiple counts of forgery (F5). Joni Pippa (DOB: 10-2-54) and Todd Klein (DOB: 3-31-59) are both charged with theft (F4) and forgery (F5).

The grand jury investigation has concluded and additional charges are expected against others at a later time. Documented losses total approximately $136,000 although investigators and United officials believe the actual loss from stolen refund drafts to be much higher.

United Airlines spokesman Joe Hopkins released this statement following today's indictments:

"United Airlines has been working extensively with the District Attorney's Office in Denver involving an investigation into theft of refund drafts from DIA. We are extremely pleased with the announcement of the indictments against these individuals. United Airlines will not tolerate fraudulent activity by anyone, including our own employees. We would like to thank the District Attorney's Office for all of their efforts in pursuing these indictments."

*The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual(s) committed a crime(s) under Colorado laws. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. See Colo. RPC 3.6