Ryan Manuella, a 30-year-old resident of Cheektowaga, New York, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison after being found guilty of assaulting a female passenger. The news was announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
A man from New York has been sentenced to 24 months in prison after he was found guilty of assaulting a female passenger during a flight to Newark Liberty International Airport. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Ryan Manuella, a 30-year-old resident of Cheektowaga, New York, had previously admitted his guilt in front of U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton. He was charged with assault with the intention of committing another felony, specifically stalking, while aboard an airplane. Following his guilty plea, Manuella was ordered to be held without bond. On November 16, 2023, Judge Wigenton handed down the sentence in Newark federal court.
According to the documents submitted in this case and the statements made during the court proceedings:
During a flight from Denver, Colorado, to Newark on April 16, 2021, Manuella decided to move to an empty seat next to a female passenger and without her consent, he touched her. Manuella acknowledged that the victim raised her voice and promptly left the row of seats. He also admitted that his actions had caused the victim significant emotional distress.
Moreover, Judge Wigenton also imposed a three-year period of supervised release on Manuella in addition to the prison sentence.
Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark and officers of the Port Authority Police Department were credited by U.S. Attorney Sellinger for the investigation that led to the sentencing. The FBI’s special agents, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy, played a crucial role in the case.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys DeNae M. Thomas and Katherine M. Romano from the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.
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