Rochester, NY – A Rochester woman is facing a criminal charge after deputies say she bypassed airport security procedures at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, prompting passengers and baggage to be rescreened before a commercial flight departed.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at approximately 2:12 p.m. on July 4 when deputies assigned to the airport’s Security Unit responded to a reported security breach involving an exit leading from the secure screening area to baggage claim.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage with airport communications personnel and identified the individual involved. Deputies located the woman aboard a commercial aircraft at Gate A2, boarded the plane, and escorted her off the aircraft without incident.
According to investigators, Ithalis Justiniano, 25, of Rochester, had previously completed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening but exited the secure area instead of proceeding to her departure gate. Authorities said airport security personnel informed her she would need to return through the TSA screening checkpoint before reentering.
Despite those instructions, deputies allege Justiniano waited for the exit doors to open and then reentered the secure area through the exit, violating airport security procedures.
As a precaution, officials rescreened all passengers and baggage associated with the aircraft before allowing the flight to continue.
Justiniano was charged with third-degree criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor. She was processed at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office C-Zone substation and released with an appearance ticket for a future court date.
The charge is an allegation, and Justiniano is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
