A man from Allen, Texas, has been charged with abusive sexual contact after allegedly touching a passenger on a flight from Chicago to Seattle. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the charge against 54-year-old Cherian Abraham. Upon arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on March 18, 2025, both Abraham and the 22-year-old victim were interviewed. Abraham was taken into custody on March 23 and appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle on March 24.
The criminal complaint details that Abraham was seated next to the victim and allegedly touched her inappropriately on three occasions. The victim initially dismissed the first incident, thinking it was accidental. The second time, five minutes later, Abraham withdrew his hand when she looked at him. He reportedly touched her again, prompting the victim to confront him verbally. She then notified a flight attendant and was relocated to another seat.
During an interview at the airport, Abraham denied the inappropriate contact allegations. The FBI's investigation found Abraham had faced similar accusations twice before. On October 9, 2023, in Minneapolis, a complaint was made after a passenger reported he touched her leg multiple times. On April 24, 2024, a separate incident involved an alleged attempt by Abraham to put his hand between another passenger's thighs. Both previous accusations did not lead to charges.
Abraham has been released on bond pending a preliminary hearing set for April 7, 2025. If convicted, abusive sexual contact can result in a prison sentence of up to two years. It is important to note that these charges are allegations, and Abraham is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The FBI is handling the investigation, while the case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ajay Ravindran.