A JetBlue pilot was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport on Thursday evening, just moments before he was scheduled to fly to Paris, after federal authorities discovered a warrant for his arrest on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor.
Jeremy Gudorf, 33, from Ohio, was detained on board the aircraft around 8:40 PM following a tip-off from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Massachusetts State Police arrested Gudorf after CBP identified an active warrant from North Carolina for second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
“In conducting their standard review of the manifest of a Boston-to-Paris flight, [Customs and Border Protection] identified an active North Carolina warrant lodged against a member of the flight crew who was detained,” Massachusetts State Police said in a statement.
Gudorf was arraigned on Friday in East Boston District Court. Prosecutors revealed that the sexual exploitation charges stem from North Carolina, leading to an additional charge of being a fugitive from justice in Massachusetts.
During the hearing, prosecutors requested that Gudorf be held without bail and surrender his passport. “He is a commercial pilot, the warrant is out of North Carolina, and he resides in Ohio. So for those reasons, we ask he be held without bail and surrender his passport,” said prosecutor Kyle Neyman.
Gudorf’s defense attorney, Tanvi Verma, argued for his release, noting that her client has no prior criminal record and understands the severity of the charges. “Frankly, there is no running away from this case, judge. He’s perfectly aware of that,” Verma stated. She also mentioned that Gudorf had the financial means to travel to North Carolina to address the charges directly.
The judge ultimately set Gudorf’s bail at $10,000, with the condition that he appear in North Carolina by Tuesday to resolve the warrant. His next court date in Massachusetts is scheduled for March 19 but will be waived if he complies with the North Carolina court’s requirements.
The sexual exploitation charge originates from Huntersville, North Carolina, where local police began an investigation last October after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A search warrant was later executed on Google, leading investigators to Gudorf. Authorities discovered that he had relocated out of state before being identified as a suspect.
JetBlue has since placed Gudorf on indefinite leave. In a statement, the airline said, “We are aware of the incident involving one of our pilots and have placed him on indefinite leave as law enforcement continues their investigation.”
This arrest has raised significant concerns about airline crew background checks and the role of federal agencies in ensuring passenger safety. As legal proceedings unfold, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case.
