Melbourne man jailed in US after slamming TSA officer into a golf cart at Los Angeles International Airport
Thomas Jesse Bingham, a 35-year-old man from Melbourne, has been sentenced to four months in a US federal prison after assaulting a TSA officer during a layover at Los Angeles International Airport. He pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of simple assault on a federal officer.
The assault took place on 15 March after Bingham accused the officer of taking his bag and passport. Court documents say he pushed the officer into a parked United Airlines golf cart and a glass wall, and grabbed his identification lanyard and hair; the officer reported pain in his back and hand. Bingham was arrested, released and later detained again while trying to board a flight to the UK; his belongings were found at a Terminal 7 restaurant. He was ordered to surrender to US Marshals on 19 October, and could face deportation after serving his sentence.
- Melbourne man Thomas Bingham received four months in US prison.
- He pleaded guilty to assaulting a TSA officer at LAX.
- Deportation proceedings may follow his sentence.
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A 35-year-old Melbourne man, Thomas Jesse Bingham, was convicted after assaulting a US airport security officer at Los Angeles International Airport in March. Bingham had accused the officer of taking his bag and passport before the altercation occurred.
During the incident, Bingham pushed the officer into a parked golf cart and a glass wall, and grabbed the officer's lanyard and hair. The officer suffered injuries to his back and hand. Bingham was arrested and initially released, but was detained again when attempting to board a subsequent flight to the United Kingdom; his belongings were later found at a terminal restaurant.
Bingham pleaded guilty to simple assault on a federal officer and has been sentenced to four months in a US federal prison. He faces potential deportation from the United States after serving his sentence.