Scandal In The Sky: Federal Air Marshals Dialing For Prostitutes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team has exclusive details about a scandal in the skies - federal air marshals from Chicago are accused of dialing for prostitutes while on-duty.

This scandal involves three federal air marshals working out of Chicago, suspended after authorities say the men were contacting prostitutes while on the job and using phones provided by taxpayers to film sexual encounters.

On Thursday in Washington, a House committee hearing will highlight the alleged misconduct in Chicago and growing concerns about the air marshal agency as a whole.

Air marshals undergo vigorous training to guard against jetliner terrorism and prevent hijackings on especially sensitive flight routes.

At the Chicago Air Marshal Headquarters near O'Hare, the three marshals were put on unpaid leave this summer, according to sources familiar with the investigation. One has resigned.

The I-Team has been told that trio of federal officers posed as pornographers looking for women to star in their movies, communicated with them via their government-issued cell phones. Several sources say the air marshals recorded their sex encounters on their federal phones.

The investigation began when supervisors looked into a worker's comp claim filed by one of the air marshals and found incriminating evidence on his cell phone.

The Air Marshal Service declined to comment - the TSA that oversees air marshals issued a statement that said all employees are "held accountable to a rigorous code of conduct."

"They have got to get a grip on this because these people are entrusted with weapons on planes to protect the public, and heaven forbid something happen," said Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah.

The I-Team emailed and left messages for the three Chicago air marshals involved in the scandal and they have not responded.

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