Mercer Island, Washington man sentenced to home incarceration for sexual assault of teen on aircraft flying to Seattle from Atlanta

Press Release

Jury convicted defendant of groping teen while victim's mother slept nearby - Judge says she has "complete confidence" in guilty verdict

Seattle - A 72-year-old Mercer Island, Washington man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 10 years of supervised release during which two years must be served as home incarceration for Attempted Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction and Abusive Sexual Contact in Special Aircraft Jurisdiction, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Munir Walji was convicted following a four-day jury trial in September 2024. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin said Walji's conduct "called for a term of incarceration." However, Judge Lin noted Walji's extremely poor health. "But for your medical conditions I would impose a prison sentence. But I am deeply concerned that a prison sentence would be a death sentence."

"This defendant unbuckled the seat belt of the teen sleeping next to him in the confines of an aircraft, and reached inside her pants, attempting to reach her genitals," said U.S. Attorney Gorman. "This is shocking conduct that traumatized the victim and impacted her family. We will continue to prosecute these cases demonstrating our commitment to holding these perpetrators accountable."

According to records in the case and testimony at trial, on November 10, 2021, Walji was seated in the aisle seat next to the 15-year-old victim on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Seattle. The victim's mother was in the window seat.

As the flight neared arrival in Seattle the victim felt a hand on her leg, waking her. She moved away from Walji and tried to go back to sleep. But the touching became more aggressive with Walji rubbing her thigh, and then unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching inside the waistband of her pants and underwear. The victim said something causing Walji to stop.

The flight attendants responded to the row when the mother pushed the call button. They moved the mother and victim to a different row. Law enforcement was notified, and Walji was arrested upon arrival in Seattle.

In asking for the 30-month sentence recommended by federal pretrial officers, prosecutors wrote to the court, "Despite Walji's history of family support, opportunity, and career success, he chose to engage in behavior worthy of society's condemnation. He chose to take advantage of a sleeping 15-year-old girl on a plane who did not know how to respond to this adult male's nonconsensual sexual advances."

Walji's attorneys cited his "severe persistent health problems" including blood cancer and reduced lung function that requires him to take 20 medications per day. Being in a congregate setting would be life threatening, according to Walji's attorneys.

Prosecutor Laura Harmon countered that at this juncture it was unknown whether BOP could meet Walji's medical needs. BOP has facilities with high level medical care for cancer patients.

Judge Lin concluded that even though prison was warranted, she was not willing to take the risk that the Bureau of Prisons could not meet his medical needs. Judge Lin also imposed a $5,000 fine and ordered Walji to register as a sex offender.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior King County Deputy Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation and sex crimes in federal court.

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Updated January 17, 2025