— A Colorado woman says the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol wants to fine her $500 for a free apple.

Crystal Tadlock received the fruit from an airline on her way home from Paris.

"The violation is for one apple," said Tadlock. "It's really unfortunate someone has to go through that and be treated like a criminal over a piece of fruit."

Tadlock says a Delta flight attendant handed her an apple toward the end of her flight from Paris.

"I wasn't hungry at the time, so I jammed it in my carry-on," said Tadlock.

When she went through customs, Tadlock says her bag was randomly searched. A customs agent pulled out the apple in the plastic pouch from Delta.

"He had asked me if my trip to France was expensive. And I said yeah... I didn't really get why he was asking that question. And then he said it's about to get a lot more expensive after I charge you $500," said Tadlock.

Tadlock said she is frustrated, and Delta shouldn't have handed out apples -- or at least warned passengers not to take them off the plane.

"I understand the laws and the department of agriculture doesn't want certain insects in the US. But once again, the apple is from Delta and I think that's the most important part of this story," said Tadlock, who says U.S. Customs clearly saw the apple come from an airplane.

In a statement, Delta said, "We encourage our customers to follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection protocols."

A spokesperson from U.S. Customs and Border Protection said, "Privacy policy prohibits us from discussing the details of any individual's specific inspection; however, all agriculture items must be declared."