Criminal activity allegations and charges against TSA employees [merged threads]
Nov 17, 2010, 11:54 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
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Posts: 5,040
Criminal activity allegations and charges against TSA employees [merged threads]
I've been posting on some other forums trying to spread the word about the real protection the TSA provides. 
With many people being concerned about their belongings being at risk during NOS and pat downs, I was trying to link to stories about various TSO thefts, arrests, etc. I've found it is tough to wade through everything here, and news stories often drop off websites after a few weeks.
Is there / should there be a master thread to summarize lawsuits against the TSA, TSOs arrested, etc? I'm thinking a master list in Post 1 with name, crime, date, status and then a single post later with details, prosecution status, snippet of story etc. Might have to be locked/moderated to prevent discussions from cluttering things.
Thoughts?
With many people being concerned about their belongings being at risk during NOS and pat downs, I was trying to link to stories about various TSO thefts, arrests, etc. I've found it is tough to wade through everything here, and news stories often drop off websites after a few weeks.Is there / should there be a master thread to summarize lawsuits against the TSA, TSOs arrested, etc? I'm thinking a master list in Post 1 with name, crime, date, status and then a single post later with details, prosecution status, snippet of story etc. Might have to be locked/moderated to prevent discussions from cluttering things.
Thoughts?
Nov 17, 2010, 12:16 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 315
I've been posting on some other forums trying to spread the word about the real protection the TSA provides. With many people being concerned about their belongings being at risk during NOS and pat downs, I was trying to link to stories about various TSO thefts, arrests, etc. I've found it is tough to wade through everything here, and news stories often drop off websites after a few weeks.
Is there / should there be a master thread to summarize lawsuits against the TSA, TSOs arrested, etc? I'm thinking a master list in Post 1 with name, crime, date, status and then a single post later with details, prosecution status, snippet of story etc. Might have to be locked/moderated to prevent discussions from cluttering things.
Thoughts?
With many people being concerned about their belongings being at risk during NOS and pat downs, I was trying to link to stories about various TSO thefts, arrests, etc. I've found it is tough to wade through everything here, and news stories often drop off websites after a few weeks.Is there / should there be a master thread to summarize lawsuits against the TSA, TSOs arrested, etc? I'm thinking a master list in Post 1 with name, crime, date, status and then a single post later with details, prosecution status, snippet of story etc. Might have to be locked/moderated to prevent discussions from cluttering things.
Thoughts?
TB
Nov 17, 2010, 12:29 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,783
Objection, your honor, the general public is not required to surrender their personal possessions to FTers for inspection as a condition of flying.
Nov 17, 2010, 12:32 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: DTW
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Great idea! Will get on that one as soon as the government mandates that people leave their property and valuables with unsupervised FTers, mandates FTers touch their children, and Flyertalk, Internet Brands (or whoever owns this place now), and their top officers get hauled into court over allegations of violating the US Constitution.
Nov 17, 2010, 12:40 pm
#5
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Posts: 12,509
Here's a collection of Isolated Incidents™ I've been compiling. The list keeps growing. 
TSA official fired in alleged theft
By Linda Loyd
4-6-09
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Transportation Safety Administration investigators have fired a lead TSA official from his Philadelphia International Airport duties for alleged theft from passengers' bags. The mid-level transportation security officer was caught stealing from checked baggage on April 1, said TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis. She declined to identify the TSA officer.
TSA Screener Accused of Stealing From Luggage at Phila. Int'l Airport
by KYW's Jim Melwert
6-3-09
A 36-year-old Willingboro, New Jersey man - and TSA employee - is facing federal charges that he stole several items out of luggage he was charged with checking.
Crackdown Continues on TSA's Luggage Looters
Investigation into workers stealing from passengers at MIA ongoing
By WILLARD SHEPARD and BRIAN HAMACHER
Sep 29, 2009
<SNIP>
Sources say six TSA employees, two men and four women, were fired weeks ago for running the organized operation. One returned 31 passenger items, including an iPod, another brought back 25 stolen items, including jewelry and a camera after both were discovered.
Now detectives are trying to find more suspects while finding the rightful owners of the items, which include expensive watches, jewelry, cameras and other goods. They'll be prosecuted once the victims identify their belongings.
Off-Duty TSA Worker Charged With Threatening to Kill a Somali Man
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO)
7-29-10
Felony charges have been filed against an off-duty TSA worker accused of threatening to kill a Somali man Monday night.
Minneapolis Police arrested 63-year-old George Loren Thompson after they said they heard him screaming threats and chasing the victim in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood. They said he was drunk and had two loaded guns on him, along with a permit to carry.
The victim told police it all started when he was getting into his car on Cedar Avenue. That's where he said Thompson, whom he had never met, asked, "Are you Somali?"
When the victim said yes, Thompson allegedly responded, "Come here. I am gonna f---ing kill you."
Ricky German gets bonus points for being the Vice President of the local TSA union office:
LAX Tops Nation In Stolen, Missing Luggage Items
Nov 7, 2008
<SNIP>
These two LAX employees would only talk if we concealed their identities.
"I saw thefts within the first few weeks of working there."
They both say there are organized rings of thieves, who identify valuables in your checked luggage by looking at the TSA x-ray screens, then communicate with baggage handlers by text or cell phone, telling them exactly what to look for.
"This is a laptop here, VCR here and it's located in this area of the bag. Here's the color of the bag. They give them all the information they need to know."
"He was going through the bag like he was searching it? Yeah searching it."
Sky Nguyen knows firsthand. He took this picture of a TSA screener with his camera phone after he saw the agent steal his iPod.
"You saw the Nano in here? Yeah inside here between the glove and palm."
The TSA agent was arrested and charged with theft.
Nov 7, 2008
<SNIP>
These two LAX employees would only talk if we concealed their identities.
"I saw thefts within the first few weeks of working there."
They both say there are organized rings of thieves, who identify valuables in your checked luggage by looking at the TSA x-ray screens, then communicate with baggage handlers by text or cell phone, telling them exactly what to look for.
"This is a laptop here, VCR here and it's located in this area of the bag. Here's the color of the bag. They give them all the information they need to know."
"He was going through the bag like he was searching it? Yeah searching it."
Sky Nguyen knows firsthand. He took this picture of a TSA screener with his camera phone after he saw the agent steal his iPod.
"You saw the Nano in here? Yeah inside here between the glove and palm."
The TSA agent was arrested and charged with theft.
Tempting the thieves with the pocketables
By Joe Sharkey
Published: December 9, 2008
<SNIP>
I do everything the experts recommend to minimize the possibility of having something stolen when I check a bag. Mostly that means that I try not to put easily filched valuables in the bag.
Kathleen Kemper, of Kirkland, Washington State, an experienced domestic and international traveler, usually takes the same precaution.
But on a recent flight from Albuquerque through Phoenix to Seattle, Kemper casually slipped her Apple iPod into a zip pocket in a suitcase she was checking. When she got to Seattle, the iPod was gone. Inside her suitcase was one of those notes from the Transportation Security Administration, saying that a TSA inspector had opened the bag.
By Joe Sharkey
Published: December 9, 2008
<SNIP>
I do everything the experts recommend to minimize the possibility of having something stolen when I check a bag. Mostly that means that I try not to put easily filched valuables in the bag.
Kathleen Kemper, of Kirkland, Washington State, an experienced domestic and international traveler, usually takes the same precaution.
But on a recent flight from Albuquerque through Phoenix to Seattle, Kemper casually slipped her Apple iPod into a zip pocket in a suitcase she was checking. When she got to Seattle, the iPod was gone. Inside her suitcase was one of those notes from the Transportation Security Administration, saying that a TSA inspector had opened the bag.
TSA agent helped himself to a $47,900 camera (and more!)
by Scott Carmichael Oct 10th 2008
<SNIP>
The latest in a long lineup of bad press for the agency involves TSA screener Pythias Brown. This 48 year old resident of Maplewood, NJ was supposed to keep bad stuff off the plane, but instead, he was helping himself to valuable items from the bags of people entrusting him with their belongings.
Pythias started small, stealing cameras, laptop computers, gaming consoles and eventually moved on to the good stuff including a video camera belonging to CNN, and a $47,900 camera stored inside the bag of an HBO employee.
The items were sold on Ebay, and as you can see from his feedback listing, these were not cheap items.
by Scott Carmichael Oct 10th 2008
<SNIP>
The latest in a long lineup of bad press for the agency involves TSA screener Pythias Brown. This 48 year old resident of Maplewood, NJ was supposed to keep bad stuff off the plane, but instead, he was helping himself to valuable items from the bags of people entrusting him with their belongings.
Pythias started small, stealing cameras, laptop computers, gaming consoles and eventually moved on to the good stuff including a video camera belonging to CNN, and a $47,900 camera stored inside the bag of an HBO employee.
The items were sold on Ebay, and as you can see from his feedback listing, these were not cheap items.
TSA official fired in alleged theft
By Linda Loyd
4-6-09
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Transportation Safety Administration investigators have fired a lead TSA official from his Philadelphia International Airport duties for alleged theft from passengers' bags. The mid-level transportation security officer was caught stealing from checked baggage on April 1, said TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis. She declined to identify the TSA officer.
TSA officer faces drug charges in Palm Bay
BY KAUSTUV BASU • FLORIDA TODAY • April 9, 2009
Timothy Monroe, 41, faces charges including trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of paraphernalia.
A Brevard County Circuit Court judge today set a bond of $743,000 for a Transportation Security Administration employee who has been charged with selling drugs from his Palm Bay house.
BY KAUSTUV BASU • FLORIDA TODAY • April 9, 2009
Timothy Monroe, 41, faces charges including trafficking cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of paraphernalia.
A Brevard County Circuit Court judge today set a bond of $743,000 for a Transportation Security Administration employee who has been charged with selling drugs from his Palm Bay house.
TSA Screener Accused of Stealing From Luggage at Phila. Int'l Airport
by KYW's Jim Melwert
6-3-09
A 36-year-old Willingboro, New Jersey man - and TSA employee - is facing federal charges that he stole several items out of luggage he was charged with checking.
Former TSA worker enters plea deal on fraud
The Associated Press, June 24, 2009
COVINGTON, Ky. — A former federal government employee at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport has entered a plea agreement to charges that he stole from the government.
The Kentucky Enquirer reported 47-year-old Gary Kesner of Lebanon, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on Monday in U.S. District Court in Covington.
The Associated Press, June 24, 2009
COVINGTON, Ky. — A former federal government employee at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport has entered a plea agreement to charges that he stole from the government.
The Kentucky Enquirer reported 47-year-old Gary Kesner of Lebanon, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on Monday in U.S. District Court in Covington.
Sting operation catches TSA employee
BY Wil Cruz
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, July 15th 2009
A sting captured by security cameras nabbed two sticky-fingered airport workers who swiped electronics planted by authorities, officials said.
Brian Burton, 27, and Antwon Simmons, 26, stole a laptop and cell phone from the decoy luggage as it moved through Kennedy Airport, Port Authority officials said.
Burton, an officer with the Transportation Security Administration, was videotaped July 7 pilfering through the Miami-bound suitcase in an airport screening room while Simmons, a baggage handler, looked on.
BY Wil Cruz
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, July 15th 2009
A sting captured by security cameras nabbed two sticky-fingered airport workers who swiped electronics planted by authorities, officials said.
Brian Burton, 27, and Antwon Simmons, 26, stole a laptop and cell phone from the decoy luggage as it moved through Kennedy Airport, Port Authority officials said.
Burton, an officer with the Transportation Security Administration, was videotaped July 7 pilfering through the Miami-bound suitcase in an airport screening room while Simmons, a baggage handler, looked on.
Ex-TSA screener gets 90 days
By Melissa Tanji
Maui News 8-29-09
WAILUKU — A 30-year-old former Transportation Security Administration worker has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years of probation for stealing jewelry, gift cards and other items from tourists' luggage as they were screened at Kahului Airport.
Devie Darla Dale Feig, a single mother of five children, also was ordered to pay $945.39 in restitution, which she will pay to TSA. The agency already has reimbursed the victims.
According to court records, one of the victims, a teacher from Missouri, had items including a checkbook, house key and three Kohl's gift cards stolen from her luggage.
She later tracked the gift cards and found they were used by Feig to purchase items over the Internet, and the items were shipped to a Kahului address.
Police also found Feig with jewelry that was taken from a North Dakota woman's suitcase.
By Melissa Tanji
Maui News 8-29-09
WAILUKU — A 30-year-old former Transportation Security Administration worker has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years of probation for stealing jewelry, gift cards and other items from tourists' luggage as they were screened at Kahului Airport.
Devie Darla Dale Feig, a single mother of five children, also was ordered to pay $945.39 in restitution, which she will pay to TSA. The agency already has reimbursed the victims.
According to court records, one of the victims, a teacher from Missouri, had items including a checkbook, house key and three Kohl's gift cards stolen from her luggage.
She later tracked the gift cards and found they were used by Feig to purchase items over the Internet, and the items were shipped to a Kahului address.
Police also found Feig with jewelry that was taken from a North Dakota woman's suitcase.
Crackdown Continues on TSA's Luggage Looters
Investigation into workers stealing from passengers at MIA ongoing
By WILLARD SHEPARD and BRIAN HAMACHER
Sep 29, 2009
<SNIP>
Sources say six TSA employees, two men and four women, were fired weeks ago for running the organized operation. One returned 31 passenger items, including an iPod, another brought back 25 stolen items, including jewelry and a camera after both were discovered.
Now detectives are trying to find more suspects while finding the rightful owners of the items, which include expensive watches, jewelry, cameras and other goods. They'll be prosecuted once the victims identify their belongings.
Cops: TSA Worker Molested 12-Year-Old
January 31, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A federal Transportation Security Administration employee has been arrested in connection with the molestation of a girl, Orange County sheriff's deputies said.
After a 15-year-old girl came forward claiming Charles Henry Bennett, 57, touched her inappropriately when she was 12, deputies said he was arrested early Friday and booked into the Orange County Jail.
The arrest report says man told investigators he planned to make her his "sex slave."
January 31, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A federal Transportation Security Administration employee has been arrested in connection with the molestation of a girl, Orange County sheriff's deputies said.
After a 15-year-old girl came forward claiming Charles Henry Bennett, 57, touched her inappropriately when she was 12, deputies said he was arrested early Friday and booked into the Orange County Jail.
The arrest report says man told investigators he planned to make her his "sex slave."
TSA employee accused of raping 14-year-old girl
03/09/10
WINTHROP, Mass. -- A Transportation Security Administration worker at Logan International Airport is accused of assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Sean Shanahan, 45, of Winthrop is being held on $50,000 cash bail following his arraignment in East Boston District Court. He is charged with statutory rape, enticement of a child and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older.
He has also been ordered not to contact the victim or any minors.
Winthrop Police said this all started when a father contacted them about sexually explicit text messages on his daughter’s cell phone.
Shanahan reportedly began contact with the girl in January.
“The defendant stated to us that it was in fact a ‘sexting’ relationship…they were sending inappropriate text messages to each other of an inappropriate nature,” said Lt. Brian Perrin of the Winthrop Police Department.
Police said the inappropriate contact escalated and Shanahan had physical sexual contact with the girl at his Winthrop home in February over school break.
“As a result of interviews with victims as well as witnesses it was revealed that there was in fact a rape of a child,” Perrin said.
03/09/10
WINTHROP, Mass. -- A Transportation Security Administration worker at Logan International Airport is accused of assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Sean Shanahan, 45, of Winthrop is being held on $50,000 cash bail following his arraignment in East Boston District Court. He is charged with statutory rape, enticement of a child and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older.
He has also been ordered not to contact the victim or any minors.
Winthrop Police said this all started when a father contacted them about sexually explicit text messages on his daughter’s cell phone.
Shanahan reportedly began contact with the girl in January.
“The defendant stated to us that it was in fact a ‘sexting’ relationship…they were sending inappropriate text messages to each other of an inappropriate nature,” said Lt. Brian Perrin of the Winthrop Police Department.
Police said the inappropriate contact escalated and Shanahan had physical sexual contact with the girl at his Winthrop home in February over school break.
“As a result of interviews with victims as well as witnesses it was revealed that there was in fact a rape of a child,” Perrin said.
TSA Worker Arrested After Jokes, Fight About Size of Genitalia
Published May 06, 2010
A TSA worker in Miami was arrested when he "lost his mind" and attacked a colleague who repeatedly made fun of his small penis after the security screener walked through a high-tech scanner that showed his genitalia, according to Miami-Dade police.
Rolando Negrin, 44, was arrested at Miami International Airport Wednesday morning following an altercation with a fellow screener, Hugh Osorno, Tuesday evening. Negrin is facing assault charges for allegedly beating Osorno with a baton in the airport's parking lot, NBC Miami reported.
Negrin had been embarrassed and enraged by constant ribbing from his colleagues after a training session with a "Whole Body Imaging" machine, according to the police affidavit.
"The X-ray revealed [Negrin] has a small penis and co-workers made fun of him on a daily basis," according to the report.
Published May 06, 2010
A TSA worker in Miami was arrested when he "lost his mind" and attacked a colleague who repeatedly made fun of his small penis after the security screener walked through a high-tech scanner that showed his genitalia, according to Miami-Dade police.
Rolando Negrin, 44, was arrested at Miami International Airport Wednesday morning following an altercation with a fellow screener, Hugh Osorno, Tuesday evening. Negrin is facing assault charges for allegedly beating Osorno with a baton in the airport's parking lot, NBC Miami reported.
Negrin had been embarrassed and enraged by constant ribbing from his colleagues after a training session with a "Whole Body Imaging" machine, according to the police affidavit.
"The X-ray revealed [Negrin] has a small penis and co-workers made fun of him on a daily basis," according to the report.
TSA screener arrested for drug theft at Little Rock airport
7/03/2010
A federal employee hired to keep you safe finds himself in trouble with the law and without his government job. Thirty-three year old Christopher Burley is accused of stealing painkillers from a passenger at Little Rock's National Airport.
It all started when a female passenger noticed missing pills from her medicine bottle. This after she followed all of the rules and regulations TSA requires when boarding an airplane. Now authorities want to know why the employee didn't follow the company's regulations.
Passengers at the airport are shocked over what police say Burley, a TSA screener did Wednesday morning. When a female passenger noticed painkillers missing from her purse after going through a security checkpoint, an investigation was prompted. Later, a TSA official found the missing pills they say Burley tried to hide.
According to employees at the airport, it was all caught on camera, too.
7/03/2010
A federal employee hired to keep you safe finds himself in trouble with the law and without his government job. Thirty-three year old Christopher Burley is accused of stealing painkillers from a passenger at Little Rock's National Airport.
It all started when a female passenger noticed missing pills from her medicine bottle. This after she followed all of the rules and regulations TSA requires when boarding an airplane. Now authorities want to know why the employee didn't follow the company's regulations.
Passengers at the airport are shocked over what police say Burley, a TSA screener did Wednesday morning. When a female passenger noticed painkillers missing from her purse after going through a security checkpoint, an investigation was prompted. Later, a TSA official found the missing pills they say Burley tried to hide.
According to employees at the airport, it was all caught on camera, too.
Off-Duty TSA Worker Charged With Threatening to Kill a Somali Man
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO)
7-29-10
Felony charges have been filed against an off-duty TSA worker accused of threatening to kill a Somali man Monday night.
Minneapolis Police arrested 63-year-old George Loren Thompson after they said they heard him screaming threats and chasing the victim in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood. They said he was drunk and had two loaded guns on him, along with a permit to carry.
The victim told police it all started when he was getting into his car on Cedar Avenue. That's where he said Thompson, whom he had never met, asked, "Are you Somali?"
When the victim said yes, Thompson allegedly responded, "Come here. I am gonna f---ing kill you."
Hartsfield TSA worker allegedly abducts, assaults woman
November 23, 2010
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A TSA employee based at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport tried to kill himself after allegedly abducting a woman, sexually assaulting her then giving her a suicide note to deliver.
MARTA police are among the law enforcement agencies investigating the claim that Randall Scott King, 49, kidnapped the woman from the Lakewood station Wednesday night. King accompanied her there from the airport where she left with him voluntarily, Hartsfield-Jackson spokeswoman Katena Carvajales told the AJC.
But King allegedly restrained the woman in the MARTA parking lot and took her to his house in Hogansville, about 50 miles south of Atlanta, where the sexual assault occurred, police there say.
<SNIP>
King, a behavior detection officer, has been with the Transportation Security Administration for nearly five years, spokesman Jon Allen told the AJC.
November 23, 2010
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A TSA employee based at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport tried to kill himself after allegedly abducting a woman, sexually assaulting her then giving her a suicide note to deliver.
MARTA police are among the law enforcement agencies investigating the claim that Randall Scott King, 49, kidnapped the woman from the Lakewood station Wednesday night. King accompanied her there from the airport where she left with him voluntarily, Hartsfield-Jackson spokeswoman Katena Carvajales told the AJC.
But King allegedly restrained the woman in the MARTA parking lot and took her to his house in Hogansville, about 50 miles south of Atlanta, where the sexual assault occurred, police there say.
<SNIP>
King, a behavior detection officer, has been with the Transportation Security Administration for nearly five years, spokesman Jon Allen told the AJC.
TSA agent at Memphis airport faces theft charge
January 27, 2011
A Transportation Security Administration agent has been charged with theft after attempting to steal a laptop at Memphis International Airport.
Ricky German, 48, was charged Wednesday with theft of property over $1,000 but less than $10,000. The incident occurred Dec. 20; it's uncertain why it took so long for charges to be filed.
According to a police affidavit, a man traveling through the airport sent his Apple laptop through the security screening process, but forgot to pick it back up.
Later, the victim and his brother went back and asked German repeatedly if he had seen the laptop. Eventually, after airport police arrived, German produced the computer, saying he'd found it.
However, a check of surveillance video revealed that German took the laptop to another part of the airport and hid it. He then got it back, wrapped it under his coat and took it back downstairs before he was discovered.
January 27, 2011
A Transportation Security Administration agent has been charged with theft after attempting to steal a laptop at Memphis International Airport.
Ricky German, 48, was charged Wednesday with theft of property over $1,000 but less than $10,000. The incident occurred Dec. 20; it's uncertain why it took so long for charges to be filed.
According to a police affidavit, a man traveling through the airport sent his Apple laptop through the security screening process, but forgot to pick it back up.
Later, the victim and his brother went back and asked German repeatedly if he had seen the laptop. Eventually, after airport police arrived, German produced the computer, saying he'd found it.
However, a check of surveillance video revealed that German took the laptop to another part of the airport and hid it. He then got it back, wrapped it under his coat and took it back downstairs before he was discovered.
TSA workers stole $40k from baggage at JFK airport
16 February 2011
NEW YORK CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Two employees with the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) have been arrested and are facing charges after allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from checked baggage at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
WNBC-TV reported that Coumar Persad, 36, and Davon Webb, 30, are expected to each face felony charges of grand larceny, conspiracy and possession of stolen property. They are also expected to face a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct.
According to the channel, citing police and an unnamed TSA official familiar with the case, $39,980 was recovered from the homes of the suspects i connection with the investigation.
16 February 2011
NEW YORK CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Two employees with the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) have been arrested and are facing charges after allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from checked baggage at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
WNBC-TV reported that Coumar Persad, 36, and Davon Webb, 30, are expected to each face felony charges of grand larceny, conspiracy and possession of stolen property. They are also expected to face a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct.
According to the channel, citing police and an unnamed TSA official familiar with the case, $39,980 was recovered from the homes of the suspects i connection with the investigation.
TSA Employee Attacked Gift Shop Worker, Police Say
February 16, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis Transportation Security Administration employee was arrested on a battery charge after scuffling with a gift shop employee at Indianapolis International Airport's parking garage on Tuesday.
Airport police were called to the fourth floor of the parking garage at about 7:30 a.m., encountering a man who claimed he was punched repeatedly after pulling into a parking space.
According to a police report, Brian Hale, 39, claimed he immediately saw a pickup truck parked behind his car, blocking it in, after he parked.
Hale told officers that the TSA employee, later identified as Michael Merriman, 59, of Mooresville, approached the driver's side door of his car, shook an angry fist at him and said, "You'll never do that to me again."
February 16, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis Transportation Security Administration employee was arrested on a battery charge after scuffling with a gift shop employee at Indianapolis International Airport's parking garage on Tuesday.
Airport police were called to the fourth floor of the parking garage at about 7:30 a.m., encountering a man who claimed he was punched repeatedly after pulling into a parking space.
According to a police report, Brian Hale, 39, claimed he immediately saw a pickup truck parked behind his car, blocking it in, after he parked.
Hale told officers that the TSA employee, later identified as Michael Merriman, 59, of Mooresville, approached the driver's side door of his car, shook an angry fist at him and said, "You'll never do that to me again."
Last edited by N965VJ; Feb 17, 2011 at 6:06 pm Reason: Added Another Isolated Incident™
Nov 29, 2010, 5:50 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 4
Article by police officer on TSA procedures and record keeping
Sorry this is slightly OT. I'm looking for an article I read recently by a former police officer, where she criticised the TSA for its lack of standardized procedures. She speculated that she is more often targeted for extra scrutiny because she looks like she will respond cooperatively. She describes how she refused the scanner, and how the TSA employee charged with patting her down didn't have a clue. In particular, she criticized the TSA employee for being too ginger about searching sensitive areas like her breasts and groin, and described the training police receive on this matter.
I'd be grateful for a link to that article. I am having trouble googling for it.
I'd be grateful for a link to that article. I am having trouble googling for it.
Nov 29, 2010, 6:20 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,051
I wonder how people would react if stories like these appeared but in place of "TSA agent", it said "FBI Agent", "Customs Agent", "Secret Service Agent", "DEA Agent". People were talking about the stories being "no different from the population at large". But does TSA claim to recruit employees to represent the population at large? Or that they choose them carefully to be SUPERIOR to the population at large? The only place I'd really expect to reflect the population at large would be minimum wage jobs or jobs with no security. Even those employers would like better, but they can't or won't provide the necessities to lure a superior pool of candidates.
Nov 29, 2010, 8:56 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: The Wilds of Virginia
Programs: Mileage Plus, Sky Miles, Air Tran A+
Posts: 38
fivebells, if I recall correctly, Deirdre Walker is the woman you are thinking of. There are at least two threads on FT about her essays.
First Thread
Second Thread
--ladytraveler
First Thread
Second Thread
--ladytraveler
Apr 12, 2011, 8:29 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
stolen property
i had a flight from albuquerque to san diego this weekend and when i got to san diego my chi hair straightener was missing and i swear i packed it so i thought maybe i left it at home and when i got back from SD my straightener was no where in sight its gone!!!! i feel very violated and disrespected!!!! we are trusting these people to with our valuables and personal items and this problem still exists! as much money as americans spend each year on flights we should be able to feel comfortable traveling with our things!!!
Apr 13, 2011, 11:03 am
#13
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
The public at large has not sworn an oath such as LEO, FAM, TSO to (for simplicity's sake) "protect and serve" and by nature of that oath and the position of authority which they hold, those who are sworn have to be above reproach both on and off duty. A "dirty cop" for example, has to be treated differently because of who they are and not because of what law they broke and a TSO who breaks the law while on or off duty or who touts their position to abuse the system needs to be treated differently as well.
*tho I'm not included in that group
Apr 13, 2011, 1:25 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Wherever liberty is threatened
Programs: TSA Disparager Silver
Posts: 314
The "public at large" is a much larger group than "TSA employees", so while the raw numbers could easily be identical the per capita numbers will show a stark difference.
May 14, 2011, 12:48 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
[Your Name]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]
May 13, 2011
Honorable Congressman Thomas Petri
2462 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Honorable Congressman Thomas Petri:
I am very alarmed at the current news circulating about the Transport Security Agency and the threat to national security because of it. On May 11, 2011 the NY Press released an article titled “To Serve, to Protect and...to Steal”detailing the crimes of Pythias Brown, a 49-year-old TSA screener at Newark Liberty International Airport. The article mentions how Mr. Brown stole products that he then sold on E-bay for $400,000.
This is alarming for the following reasons:
1) If the TSA can remove items from luggage and sneak them out of the airport, then the process can be reversed and they can sneak them into the airport as well. This is very alarming as the state of emergency of the last decade was imposed on our society to explicitly limit this very action;
2) Over the past decade, TSA agents have proven to have low moral and ethical qualms;
3) Due to their actions listed in this letter, one can deduce that TSA agents may be bribed to do what terrorists, organized criminals, and foreign agents want once their lax attitude towards ethics is discovered.
Here is a list of articles written about other TSA agents and criminal activities:
Crackdown Continues on TSA's Luggage Looters (Sep 29, 2009)
Cops: TSA Worker Molested 12-Year-Old (Jan 31, 2010)
TSA employee accused of raping 14-year-old girl (Mar 09, 2010)
TSA Worker Arrested After Jokes, Fight About Size of Genitalia (May 06, 2010)
TSA screener arrested for drug theft at Little Rock airport (Jul 03, 2010)
Off-Duty TSA Worker Charged With Threatening to Kill a Somali Man(Jul 29, 2010)
Hartsfield TSA worker allegedly abducts, assaults woman(
Nov 23, 2010)
TSA agent at Memphis airport faces theft charge (Jan 27, 2011)
TSA workers stole $40k from baggage at JFK airport (Feb 16, 2011)
I expected a much higher level of service from the people that are empowered to protect us from terrorist activities, and I am quite disappointed. In the 10 years since 9/11 the TSA has not apprehended a single terrorist nor have they prevented a terrorist activity, yet their position of power has been repeatedly abused. I question the standards and background checks of those who are placed at the iron gate against potential terrorist activity, especially with the talk of expanding the TSA to train stations and other mediums of transport.
I implore your committee look at the allegations and find a way to remedy them before they escalate.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
I suggest hand writing this and mailing it out. Other politicians this can be sent out to are:
House:
Honorable John Mica
2187 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Senate:
Maria Cantwell
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Jay Rockefeller
531 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
TSA HQ, TSA 2
ATTN: 49 CFR 1503.3 Reports
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 20598-6002
Janet Napolitano
444 N. Capitol St., NW, Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20001
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]
May 13, 2011
Honorable Congressman Thomas Petri
2462 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Honorable Congressman Thomas Petri:
I am very alarmed at the current news circulating about the Transport Security Agency and the threat to national security because of it. On May 11, 2011 the NY Press released an article titled “To Serve, to Protect and...to Steal”detailing the crimes of Pythias Brown, a 49-year-old TSA screener at Newark Liberty International Airport. The article mentions how Mr. Brown stole products that he then sold on E-bay for $400,000.
This is alarming for the following reasons:
1) If the TSA can remove items from luggage and sneak them out of the airport, then the process can be reversed and they can sneak them into the airport as well. This is very alarming as the state of emergency of the last decade was imposed on our society to explicitly limit this very action;
2) Over the past decade, TSA agents have proven to have low moral and ethical qualms;
3) Due to their actions listed in this letter, one can deduce that TSA agents may be bribed to do what terrorists, organized criminals, and foreign agents want once their lax attitude towards ethics is discovered.
Here is a list of articles written about other TSA agents and criminal activities:
Crackdown Continues on TSA's Luggage Looters (Sep 29, 2009)
Cops: TSA Worker Molested 12-Year-Old (Jan 31, 2010)
TSA employee accused of raping 14-year-old girl (Mar 09, 2010)
TSA Worker Arrested After Jokes, Fight About Size of Genitalia (May 06, 2010)
TSA screener arrested for drug theft at Little Rock airport (Jul 03, 2010)
Off-Duty TSA Worker Charged With Threatening to Kill a Somali Man(Jul 29, 2010)
Hartsfield TSA worker allegedly abducts, assaults woman(
Nov 23, 2010)
TSA agent at Memphis airport faces theft charge (Jan 27, 2011)
TSA workers stole $40k from baggage at JFK airport (Feb 16, 2011)
I expected a much higher level of service from the people that are empowered to protect us from terrorist activities, and I am quite disappointed. In the 10 years since 9/11 the TSA has not apprehended a single terrorist nor have they prevented a terrorist activity, yet their position of power has been repeatedly abused. I question the standards and background checks of those who are placed at the iron gate against potential terrorist activity, especially with the talk of expanding the TSA to train stations and other mediums of transport.
I implore your committee look at the allegations and find a way to remedy them before they escalate.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
I suggest hand writing this and mailing it out. Other politicians this can be sent out to are:
House:
Honorable John Mica
2187 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Senate:
Maria Cantwell
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Jay Rockefeller
531 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
TSA HQ, TSA 2
ATTN: 49 CFR 1503.3 Reports
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 20598-6002
Janet Napolitano
444 N. Capitol St., NW, Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20001