Federal Air Marshal Admits Making False Statement to Federal Officer and Unauthorized Selling of I.D. Cards with Homeland Security Insignia

TRENTON, N.J. - A U.S. Air Marshal admitted selling "Law Enforcement Family Member" cards that were embossed with the insignia of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and making a false statement to a federal officer who was investigating an individual who possessed one of the cards, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Jonathan J. Ledesma, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court on July 17, 2024, to a two-count information that charged him with making false statements and selling official insignia without authorization.

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

From October 2021 through January 2023, Ledesma purchased cards that identified their bearers as being a "family member" of "Jonathan J. Ledesma," a "Federal Officer." These cards were each embossed with the apparent insignia of DHS as well as a QR code that was linked to Ledesma's cellular phone. Though Ledesma was not authorized to sell the insignia of DHS, or any colorable imitation of the insignia, Ledesma then sold the cards to others.

In July 2022, Ledesma sold a card to a person who was arrested on Jan. 30, 2023, while in possession of the card. A federal officer scanned the QR code and spoke with Ledesma, who indicated that he had provided the card to person because he was a friend and business associate of the person's father. This statement was false because, as Ledesma well knew, he had never met or done business with person's father. On Jan. 18, 2023, Ledesma sold a second card to another individual.

Making a false statement is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The unauthorized sale of official insignia is punishable by a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the New York Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, under Acting Special Agent in Charge Luke Devlin; the Detroit Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John Pias; and the Detroit Field Office of the Transportation Security Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Phil Spampinato, with the investigation leading to the charges. U.S. Attorney Sellinger also thanked the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky for its assistance with this investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francesca Liquori and Thomas S. Kearney of the Special Prosecutions Division.