10 Indicted in Southwest Ticket Fraud

SAN ANTONIO (AP) _ A federal grand jury today indicted 10 people on charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting wire fraud against Southwest Airlines.

Prosecutors in San Antonio say the suspects allegedly were linked to the sale of about 5,600 fraudulently obtained tickets.

A judge last year sentenced Althea and James Jackson to 21/2 years in prison after both were convicted of wire fraud.

Althea Jackson was a former administrative assistant at the executive offices of the Dallas-based airline. She acquired tickets that were supposed to be used for thanking passengers who assist flight crews.

The tickets were allegedly distributed to a group of friends, relatives and James Jackson’s co-workers at the Bexar County Justice Center, where he was a bailiff.

The co-defendants then allegedly sold the tickets at lower prices.