An airport baggage handler and former U.S. Marine is facing allegations of falsifying military deployment records to maintain employment benefits while enjoying travel perks from his airline job.
Federal prosecutors claim that 29-year-old Dior Jay-Jarrett constructed an elaborate scheme to exaggerate his military commitments, allowing him to travel extensively at his employer’s expense.
Jay-Jarrett of Queens, New York, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from December 2013 until his medical retirement in November 2022, with the alleged fraudulent activities beginning approximately a year prior to leaving the military.
Airport baggage handler makes false military leave requests
According to court documents, Jay-Jarrett began working as a baggage handler for an airline, identified as “Airline-1,” in October 2021 while still actively serving in the Marines.
Within a week of completing his on-the-job training, he requested an eight-month military leave, submitting allegedly fabricated documents that falsely stated he was being deployed overseas.
The complaint states that Jay-Jarrett informed the airline that he had orders to report for duty in Kuwait starting in November 2021.
However, the documentation he provided contained the signature of a military official who, according to Department of Defense records, had retired in 1997.
In reality, official records indicate that Jay-Jarrett had been assigned as a military guard at the 1st Marine Corps District Headquarters in Garden City, New York, from July 2020 until his retirement in 2022.
By June 2023, Jay-Jarrett allegedly repeated the deception, this time requesting another military leave lasting approximately two and a half years.
According to the complaint, he falsely claimed to be deployed to the “South West Border” and indicated uncertainty about when he would return to work.
The provided documents were signed by a supposed Marine Corps official named “J.W. Bordgurt,” who, upon investigation, was found not to exist in the Department of Defense’s personnel records.
In July 2024, prosecutors allege that Jay-Jarrett once again submitted false paperwork, this time asserting that his military service was ongoing and would last until the end of his contract.
However, by that time, he had already retired from the Marine Corps, a fact omitted from his correspondence with the airline.
Former soldier took military leave to secure free flights
Prosecutors allege that the falsified documents allowed Jay-Jarrett to remain on military leave from the airline while continuing to enjoy travel benefits.
These privileges enabled him to take flights without having to fulfill his baggage handler duties.
While on this extended leave, he also secured a position as a federal air marshal with the Department of Homeland Security in October 2022, right before his official retirement from the Marines.
The complaint further states that Jay-Jarrett held an additional job as a loss prevention lead at a sporting goods store, identified as “Retailer-1.”
Prosecutors allege that he employed similar tactics there, requesting military leave from June 2022 to June 2023 under false pretenses.
“On or about July 3, 2022, Jay-Jarrett provided Retailer-1 falsified military orders claiming he would be stationed in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the following year,” the complaint states.
The orders were allegedly signed by “Dior JayJarrett” and purportedly authorized by the fictitious Marine Corps official “J.W. Bordgurt.”
Prosecutors suspect he maintained this leave status to continue receiving employee discounts from the retailer.
Airport baggage handler racked up $70k in flight benefits
Given Jay-Jarrett’s earnings from multiple employers—including the military, DHS, and the sporting goods store—prosecutors contend that he likely never intended to work as a baggage handler at Airline-1.
“[B]y remaining on long-term military leave at Airline-1, Jay-Jarrett remained entitled to travel benefits including the ability to take unlimited, free flights on Airline-1 alongside ticketed family members or travel companions (who generally paid for a portion of their tickets, but at reduced rates),” the complaint states.
Between November 2021 and September 2024, Jay-Jarrett allegedly took at least 130 of these flights, while his family and friends used the airline’s benefits for around 20 more discounted tickets.
The total estimated value of these flights is about $70,000, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors claim that when questioned about his frequent travel benefits, Jay-Jarrett avoided providing a clear explanation.
“In text messages sent to a girlfriend on or about April 3, 2023, Jay-Jarrett explained that he ‘got a discount’ he could give her to take Airline-1 flights,” the complaint states.
However, when she voiced her hesitation and asked, ‘Should you be using that for yourself?’ he got defensive.
Jay-Jarrett allegedly became frustrated when pressed further, insisting he had already explained the matter.
When the girlfriend directly asked, ‘How do you get that benefit?’ he refised to clarify, responding, ‘I explained it to you already.’”
Incident at JFK Airport alerts airline to scheme
In August 2024, a situation at John F. Kennedy International Airport raised suspicions about Jay-Jarrett’s activities.
While preparing to board a flight using his employer’s travel benefits, he utilized his federal air marshal credentials to bypass the security line and requested permission to carry his TSA-issued firearm.
However, a gate agent grew suspicious when noticing that an airline employee flying standby for personal travel was also carrying a service weapon. The agent contacted corporate security for verification.
Realizing the potential implications, Jay-Jarrett reportedly became uneasy.
“I think I just walked into a trap,” he allegedly texted his girlfriend, explaining that he had been asked to provide documentation. “I just have a funny feeling.”
His funny feeling proved accurate as Jay-Jarrett now faces one count of wire fraud, a charge that carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years if convicted.
