4 flight attendants plead guilty to smuggling drug money out of the U.S. after using crew screening gates to get through security, according to prosecutors

Sarah Valerio Pujols, 42, Charlie Hernandez, 42, Emmanuel Torres, 34, and Jarol Fabio, 35, who worked for various international airlines, were arrested in May on various charges, including operating an unlicensed money transfer business.

They are said to have received a fee for transporting cash proceeds from drug sales on commercial flights to the Dominican Republic – according to authorities, they transported a total of about $8 million.

Prosecutors said the flight attendants took advantage of their status as “known crew members” to avoid being screened less than regular passengers at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and other airports, allowing them to pass through a special security checkpoint.

Each of them has now pleaded guilty to one count of operating an unlicensed money transfer business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, according to the press release.

As part of their guilty plea, they “agreed to give up any property related to the commission of the crime,” it continues.

US Attorney Damian Williams said: “These four flight attendants abused their privileges as flight attendants to move money for drug traffickers.”

“My office is committed to stopping the illicit flow of drug proceeds in all its forms. These guilty pleas demonstrate that the influence of law enforcement is not limitless,” he added.

The smuggling began around 2014, according to the indictment documents, which Business Insider was previously able to view.

The case was finally closed after Homeland Security Investigations and the New York Police Department initiated a series of undercover operations involving cooperating witnesses.

It is unclear which companies the other two defendants worked for.