Two federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are under arrest for allegedly stealing from passengers at Miami International Airport as they made their way through a security checkpoint.
Labarrius Williams, 33, and Josue Gonzalez, 20, were caught on surveillance video with sticky fingers at security checkpoint E on June 29, and are currently facing grand theft charges following their July arrests, according to CBS News in Miami.
Several video clips of Williams and Gonzalez appearing to work together to commit the crimes were released by the state attorney’s office.
“According to the police report, the pair is accused of ‘…removing $600 from a passenger’s wallet, while the passenger was in the screening process…’,” the outlet reports, which explained that the duo would “…distract passengers as they were being screened to steal monies from their belongings…”
(Video: YouTube)
One portion of the video appears to show one TSA agent unzipping a passenger’s bag and retrieving something. When the bag comes before him again prior to it sliding through the x-ray, the agent again puts his hands into his pocket.
Understandably, the video has shocked those who must submit their belongings for inspection before boarding their flights.
“I think they have a lot of nerve because don’t they realize they’re on camera?” stated passenger David Caban. “These are places that are monitored so much. What are they thinking?”
Former Miami-Dade Police Major Ignacio Alverez cautioned passengers against dumping their valuables, such as jewelry or their wallet, in the provided open trays.
“Before I reach the security area, I take off my watch, my ring, my wallet and put it inside my bag and I never lose sight of my bag,” he told CBS News. “After I clear security I go through my bag and get everything back out. I get my wallet, I get my watch, I get my phone, I get my cash and put it back in my pocket to make sure nothing is missing.”
“The Points Guy,” Clint Henderson, reports on a travel news website.
To keep your belongings safe, he suggests you don’t put valuables in your checked bags; refrain from using “flashy” luggage; don’t carry excess cash, and keep your loose cash in your pockets — or, better yet, don’t use cash at all; and make sure you put air tags in the luggage you do check.
TSA, meanwhile, has “removed” Williams and Gonzalez from their “screening duties” pending “completion of the investigation and administrative actions,” the agency said in a statement.
“The Transportation Security Administration holds its Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) to the highest professional and ethical standards and has no tolerance for misconduct in the workplace,” the statement continued. “We actively and aggressively investigated these allegations of misconduct and presented our findings to the Miami Dade Police Department, and are working closely with them. Any employee who fails to meet our fundamental ethical standards is held accountable.”
According to CBS News, “Gonzales’s attorney Richard Cooper confirms that his client agreed to a deferred prosecution program, meaning if he completes the course, the case will be dismissed.”
“Williams’ attorney will not comment on the status of his case,” the outlet reports, “but the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts shows a trial date is set for next month. Charges were dropped against a third suspect, Elizabeth Fuster.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.