January 28, 2022 - MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for engaging in abusive sexual contact on an airplane. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles J. Kovats made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel sentenced the defendant.

According to court documents, in April 2019, Neeraj Chopra, 41, knowingly engaged in abusive sexual contact with a 16-year-old victim who was seated next to him aboard a Jet Blue flight from Boston to Minneapolis. During the flight, Chopra retrieved a blanket from his backpack and draped it over his lap, with a portion of the blanket also covering the victim’s right leg. Chopra put his hand under the blanket and began inappropriately touching the victim. Chopra ignored the victim’s multiple requests to stop and continued to inappropriately touch the victim.

On July 14, 2021, following a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Chopra on one count of abusive sexual contact.

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Police.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren O. Roso and Michelle E. Jones.
Source: DOJ Release