Rajesh Kumar Kapoor, a 57-year-old resident of Sacramento, has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting another passenger on an international flight to San Francisco. The plea was entered on December 19, 2024.

Kapoor was indicted earlier this year on March 13. The indictment accused him of inappropriately touching the victim's breasts and inner thigh during a flight from the Republic of Korea to San Francisco on January 16, 2024. In his guilty plea, Kapoor admitted to intentionally touching the victim's inner thigh without her consent and with the intent to harass her. He pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact under 18 U.S.C. § 2244(b), without any plea agreement from the government.

United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey emphasized that "sexual assault has no place in our society, not on the ground and not in the skies." He urged airline passengers who experience such assaults to report them for investigation and prosecution.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp stated that "sexual misconduct on an aircraft is a serious violation of federal law and public trust," reinforcing that everyone should feel safe while traveling.

Kapoor's sentencing is set for March 27, 2025, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen. He could face up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant federal statutes.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Chou and Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas M. Parker, with support from Claudia Hyslop, Marina Ponomarchuk, Andy Ding, and Tina Rosenbaum. The FBI led the investigation with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the San Francisco Police Department Airport Bureau.