TSA Agent Arrested After Stealing From Flyer’s Wallet at JFK

Police arrested a TSA agent over the weekend after a flyer accused him of stealing money from his wallet during routine screening.

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) police arrested a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee Saturday night at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) after he allegedly stole money from a flyer’s wallet.

According to several media outlets including New York Daily News and The Associated Press, Joe Bangay, 37, after a flyer noticed $61 missing from his wallet after he retrieved it from the screening bin.

“TSA is in the process of terminating this individual for his disgraceful and intolerable behavior,” said TSA National Spokesman Mike England in an email to FlyerTalk. “TSA holds its security officers to the highest professional and ethical standards and has a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct in the workplace.”

England would not confirm the name of the employee charged or details of the incident.

“Allegations of misconduct are aggressively investigated and when our employees fail to meet these fundamental ethical standards, we hold our personnel appropriately accountable,” England said. “TSA security officers represent a professional and honorable workforce that is trained to treat passengers and their personal belongings with care and respect.”

In an email statement to FlyerTalk, the Port Authority Police confirmed Bangay’s arrest, writing:

On 09/19/15, at about 10:00 p.m. a 26 year old Bronx man, reported to Port Authority Police that as he was going through routine screening at the main screening point at JFK airport, he placed his wallet in the bin for screening. When he retrieved his wallet, he noticed that $61 had been removed.  PA Police began an investigation and photographic evidence documented that the suspect, an on-duty TSA screening agent, who was working at the checkpoint, in uniform had removed money from the complainant’s wallet, and was responsible for the theft.

Port Authority police placed the suspect under arrest.  There was no disruption to airport operations.

According to the Port Authority Police, Bangay is charged with larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.

[Photo: Port Authority Police Department]