Airline Pilot Convicted Of Sex Offense On The Run

1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Tara Tighe, Public Affairs Specialist

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A commercial airline pilot from Pittsburgh who was recently convicted of a Federal sex crime is now a fugitive from justice, according to United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II.

MUSTAFA BAZBAZ, who pled guilty in August to the felony offense of “Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct”, was out on bond and under electronic monitoring in Western Pennsylvania until last week. On Friday evening he was permitted to leave his home to attend a worship service but never returned and thus a warrant was issued for his arrest. Bazbaz, who is 28 years of age, has been on the run since Friday evening at approximately 6 p.m. He was last seen driving a silver Buick Century automobile with California License Plate Number 6YUTO65.

“The hunt for Mr. Bazbaz is unique in that he’s a trained pilot, he comes from a wealthy family with substantial means, he’s a convicted child predator, and he faces a lengthy prison sentence once he’s captured,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “We need the public’s help to track him down before he harms anyone else.”

At the August plea hearing Bazbaz admitted to communicating with a 15-year old female from Jefferson County, Ohio, in December of 2013 via the website known as MeetMe.com. He misrepresented his age and name to the victim, claiming to be 17 years old and to be named “Mike B.” Bazbaz sent sexually explicit images of himself to the victim before arranging to pick her up in her home in Jefferson County in December of 2013. He then took the victim to a hotel room in Hancock County where they engaged in sexual intercourse. At the time of the incident Bazbaz was employed as a pilot with Republic Airways in Pittsburgh.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Bazbaz should contact Chad Simpson at the United States Marshals Service at 304-218-9286.