Current:Home > NewsWatch: TSA agents in Miami appear to steal passenger items; what they're accused of taking -TradeStation
Watch: TSA agents in Miami appear to steal passenger items; what they're accused of taking
View
Date:2025-04-17 13:40:44
New surveillance video appears to show officers with the Transportation Security Administration stealing items from passengers' bags at Miami International Airport.
Labarrius Williams, 33, Josue Gonzalez, 20, and Elizabeth Fuster, 22 were arrested on July 6 and charged with organized schemes to defraud. Fuster's charges have since been dropped, while Gonzalez and Williams also were charged with grand theft.
Court records show that Gonzalez has been accepted into a deferred prosecution program and charges against him will be dropped if he meets the conditions of the program.
Williams has pleaded not guilty and is set for a trial hearing on Oct. 23.
The new video, obtained by USA TODAY on Friday, appears to show just how the alleged scheme worked.
TSA firearm detections are on the rise:Here's what we saw at one of the airports with the most cases
Video shows sleight of hand with wallet
As passenger belongings sit in bins on a conveyor belt, Gonzalez and Williams appear to pocket several items, including cash, according to the video, released by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office.
One clip shows Gonzalez sliding his hand into a purse, grabbing something and moving it behind a larger object in the bin, apparently out of view of passengers. Gonzalez appears to remove cash from what looks like a wallet.
The men took as much as $600 from a wallet, according to the arrest affidavit, which says that Gonzalez, Williams and Fuster conspired to steal on multiple other occasions.
Gonzalez and Fuster admitted to stealing $1,000 per day
In a formal interview at TSA Command Center, Gonzalez and Fuster waived their right to remain silent and gave written statements confessing to being involved in various thefts, according to arrest affidavits. They admitted to stealing an average of about $1,000 a day while they worked together.
Williams did not waive his rights and refused to speak with investigators, the affidavits said.
None of their attorneys immediately responded to messages seeking comment from USA TODAY on Friday.
“The Transportation Security Administration holds its Transportation Security Officers to the highest professional and ethical standards and has no tolerance for misconduct in the workplace,” the TSA told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “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.”
TSA removed the officers from their screening duties pending the conclusion of the investigation and administrative actions.
A Miami International Airport spokesperson declined to comment.
Just in case:10 things to keep in your carry-on in case of flight cancellation or delay
veryGood! (36)
Related
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Jonathan Majors faces sentencing for assault conviction that derailed Marvel star’s career
- See the evidence presented at Michelle Troconis' murder conspiracy trial
- Are your eclipse glasses safe? How to know if they'll really protect your eyes during the total solar eclipse
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Sam Hunt performs new song 'Locked Up' at 2024 CMT Music Awards
- See the list of notable past total solar eclipses in the U.S. since 1778
- Noah Cyrus Likes Liam Hemsworth's Gym Selfie Amid Family Rift Rumors
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Cargo ship stalled near bridge on NY-NJ border, had to be towed for repairs, officials say
Ranking
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Purdue's Zach Edey embraces 'Zachille O'Neal' nickname, shares 'invaluable' advice from Shaq
- Campbell “Pookie” Puckett and Jett Puckett Prove Their Red Carpet Debut Is Fire at CMT Music Awards
- Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson bemoans 'woke culture,' declines to endorse presidential candidate
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Deion Sanders rips Colorado football after professor says players disrespectful in class
- Dawn Staley thanks Caitlin Clark: 'You are one of the GOATs of our game.'
- South Carolina, Iowa, UConn top final AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll to cap extraordinary season
Recommendation
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
Cargo ship stalled near bridge on NY-NJ border, had to be towed for repairs, officials say
California doctor travels to Gaza to treat children injured in Israel-Hamas war
Total solar eclipse 2024: Watch livestream of historic eclipse from path of totality
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Full transcript of Face the Nation, April 7, 2024
Former gas station chain owner gets Trump endorsement in Wisconsin congressional race
'Quiet on Set' new episode: Former 'All That' actor Shane Lyons says Brian Peck made 'passes' at him