Man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting fellow passenger on SFO-bound flight

SAN FRANCISCO – A Northern California man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a fellow passenger on a flight from South Korea to San Francisco, according to authorities.

Rajesh Kumar Kapoor, 57, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty on Dec. 19 to abusive sexual contact, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release. He admitted he intentionally touched the victim’s inner thigh without permission and with the intent to harass her.

The incident happened on Jan. 16, 2024. Four months later, a federal grand jury indicted Kapoor, alleging he touched the victim’s breasts and inner thigh without her consent.

Kapoor faces up to two years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on March 27.

“Airline passengers should not have to fear sexual assault while traveling,” U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey said in a statement. “These assaults are federal crimes, and I urge the public to report them to law enforcement so they can be investigated and prosecuted.”