U.S. authorities have accused Toronto resident Dallas Pokornik of fraud, saying he used a fake airline ID to fly hundreds of times without paying over a period of several years. Getty Images
A Toronto man now faces serious fraud charges in the United States after authorities accused him of pretending to work for airlines to fly for free. Prosecutors say the case mirrors the plot of the movie Catch Me If You Can, but this time, they say, the story unfolded in real life.
U.S. officials allege that 33-year-old Dallas Pokornik posed as both a pilot and a flight attendant over several years. They claim he used a fake airline identification badge to access hundreds of free flights on American carriers.
The alleged scheme spanned several years
Court documents say Pokornik carried out the alleged scheme between January 2020 and October 2024. During that time, prosecutors believe he booked flights reserved for airline crew members, even though he did not work for any airline.
Authorities said Pokornik formerly worked as a flight attendant for a Canadian airline between 2017 and 2019. Prosecutors stressed that he no longer held any airline job when the alleged fraud took place.
Investigators claim Pokornik created a false employee badge that allowed him to bypass normal booking rules and board flights without paying.
Request to sit in cockpit raises concern
In one incident highlighted in court records, prosecutors allege that Pokornik asked to sit in a “jump seat” inside an aircraft cockpit. That seat remains restricted to trained pilots and authorized crew members.
According to prosecutors, Pokornik did not hold a pilot’s license or any certification that would allow him inside the cockpit. Court documents did not confirm whether he actually gained access to the flight deck.
Airlines and arrest details
The indictment does not name the airlines involved. However, prosecutors identified them as carriers based in Honolulu, Chicago, and Fort Worth, Texas.
Authorities arrested Pokornik in Panama before extraditing him to the United States to face charges. He now stands accused of wire fraud, a serious offense under U.S. law.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said prosecutors remain aware of alleged misconduct beyond the dates listed in the indictment. Officials noted that the formal charges currently cover activity during 2024, even though investigators believe the behavior began years earlier.
Potential penalties ahead
If a court finds Pokornik guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors also said the court could impose a fine of up to $250,000.
Officials have not yet detailed how many flights Pokornik allegedly took, but they described the number as being in the hundreds. Prosecutors believe the actions caused financial losses and raised safety concerns for airline operations.
Pokornik’s lawyer has not publicly commented on the case.
