Tampa Woman Pleads Guilty To Assault On DHS Agent

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Latrese Brantley (40, Tampa) pleaded guilty yesterday to assaulting a federal agent.  Brantley faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

According to the plea agreement, on April 30, 2013, Brantley was returning to Tampa on a Jet Blue flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Jet Blue flight personnel reported that Brantley had been of concern during the flight, and asked for a representative to come to the gate to escort Brantley off the plane. As Brantley was being escorted from the flight by a Jet Blue employee, she punched that employee. A Department of Homeland Security agent, who was in the airport terminal at the time, heard the commotion and came over to assist.  She identified herself as a federal agent.  Brantley punched the agent in the face and the two struggled near the flight gate. As a result of the struggle, the agent suffered scratches and abrasions and sustained physical injury that required later medical attention.

This case was investigated by the Transportation Security Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.