A Boston man has been convicted of sexual harassment of a minor that took place on a JetBlue flight in 2024. The man was accompanied by his wife and four children when he touched a 17-year-old girl repeatedly through the gap between the seats. 48-year-old Jonathan Alan Lefman was convicted of one count of abusive sexual contact while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. US District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for January 12, 2027. Lefman was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in February 2025 and later indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He was convicted on October 16.“The defendant repeatedly sexually abused a minor who was simply trying to travel safely aboard a commercial flight,” said United States Attorney Leah B Foley. “No one should have to fear being sexually assaulted, whether in the air or on the ground. Today’s verdict holds the defendant accountable for his disturbing conduct and sends a clear message that those who prey on vulnerable passengers will face justice.”
Here’s what happened on board Boston-bound JetBlue flight
According to court documents, the incident took place on August 30, 2024. Lefman was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Boston with his wife and four children. The minor victim was sitting directly in front of him. He put his finger between the back and the bottom of the seat and touched the minor’s buttocks. On one occasion, the victim was able to take a video of his finger.“On multiple occasions during the flight and while on the ground waiting to deplane in Boston, Lefman engaged in abusive sexual contact with the minor victim. Specifically, Lefman worked his hand in between the area between the back and bottom of the seat directly in front of him, where the minor victim was seated, and touched the minor victim’s buttocks without her permission. On at least one occasion when he did so, the minor victim saw Lefman’s reflection leaning between the seats in the seatback monitor in front of her. On the last occasion when he touched or attempted to touch her buttocks, the minor victim was able to use her cell phone camera to take a video of Lefman’s fingers protruding between the back and bottom of the minor victim’s seat. Upon exiting the aircraft, while still on the jet bridge, the minor victim took a video of Lefman as he got off the aircraft,” the court report said.After deplaning, the victim’s female family member who was sitting in a different row reported the conduct to a JetBlue supervisor and confronted Lefman, showing the video.The charge of abusive sexual contact while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, five years to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000