A U.S. flight attendant accused of attempting to smuggle more than 8 million rubles ($250,000) in jewelry through Sheremetyevo Airport in March will go before a Moscow region court to face charges of tax evasion, investigators said Wednesday.
Suzanne Dicker, 50, who works for a “major airline” and had just arrived from New York, tried to pass through customs without declaring 15 pieces of jewelry and two brand-name watches, the Investigative Committee said.
She was stopped by a border guard as she walked through the “green corridor,” which is for travelers who have nothing to declare. She was then body-searched by customs officials.
Dicker was attempting to evade more than 3.5 million rubles in customs duties and was placed under house arrest, investigators said in a statement.
Investigators did not identify the airline. Delta Air Lines, the only U.S. airline that offers flights from New York to Sheremetyevo, had no immediate comment Wednesday.
A criminal case was opened in July. If convicted by a Khimki court, Dicker faces a fine of up to 500,000 rubles, or up to five years in prison.
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