It’s already an annoying experience going through TSA, but imagine getting your luggage back only to find money missing!!! Well, that’s exactly what happened to some flyers in Miami and now two agents are facing consequences for their alleged crimes.
New surveillance footage that has been released to the public shows Transportation Security Administration officers at Miami International Airport discretely going through travelers’ bags and allegedly stealing money during security screenings. The officers on the videos have been identified as Josue Gonzalez and Labarrius Williams.
The duo are facing charges in the alleged thefts following their arrests back in July. A third TSA agent was also arrested but had her charges dropped.
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So What Made Airport Officials Become Supsious?
Authorities started investigating thefts that had occurred at the airport’s Security Checkpoint E. Detectives actually discovered surveillance video that showed the agents in action. It captured them distracting passengers as they were being screened so they could steal money from their belongings, the arrest reports said.
In one case, a video provided by TSA showed Williams and Gonzalez taking out a total of $600 from a passenger’s wallet as the passenger was being screened. Another video that was released Monday, shows the two casually picking through a pocket of a black bag. When one agent walks away, the other appears to take something from the bin and put it in his pocket.
Gonzalez and Williams have pleaded not guilty. They’re awaiting their next court date. While they do that, Gonzalez has already been ordered to pay $700 to the two victims involved and he must do 25 hours of community service and give up his airport security credentials, NBC Miami noted. Gonzalez was reportedly accepted into a state program where if he successfully completes it, his charges will get dropped.
As for Mr. Williams, it was said that he was denied entry into the same program so he will head to trial.
As travelers, many rely on TSA agents to protect us and our belongings during our journeys. Discovering that some individuals within this agency are engaging in criminal activities is deeply troubling.
The theft of any item especially passengers’ money not only violates their trust, but it also undermines the credibility of the entire transportation security system. Hopefully with this latest incident, a better security measures will be put in place.
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