U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Newark Field Office
11 Centre Place
Newark, NJ 07102

Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun

POLISH NATIONAL ON A PLANE CHARGED WITH ASSAULT

MANVILLE – Tomasz Adam Zielinski, 31, a citizen of Poland, surrendered to FBI Agents at the Manville Police Station this morning, Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun announced. The surrender occurred pursuant to a charge of assault on a teenage girl on a flight from Warsaw, Poland to Newark Liberty International Airport on July 5, 2008.

According to the Federal criminal complaint, Zielinski was seated next to the girl when he began touching her inappropriately. The girl asked to have her seat changed and was accommodated by flight crew members. Later in the flight, Zielinski approached the girl again, apologized and asked for forgiveness. The flight crew directed Zielinski to go back to his seat. The flight landed at Newark Liberty International Airport in the District of New Jersey at approximately 9:00 p.m. (EST) on July 5, 2008.

An initial appearance is scheduled on this matter at 2:00 p.m. before Honorable Claire C. Cecchi, United States Magistrate Judge. The assault charge, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The FBI, through its victim-witness assistance program, is working with the victim and her family to help them through this difficult crisis.

Special Agent in Charge Dun thanks the members of the flight crew for their diligence, Chief Christopher Trucillo of the Port Authority Police Department, chief Mark A. Peltack of the Manville Police Department, and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s office for their assistance in this matter.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jud Welle of the Criminal Division in Newark.