Current:Home > StocksSignalHub-Watch: TSA agents in Miami appear to steal passenger items; what they're accused of taking -Mastery Money Tools
SignalHub-Watch: TSA agents in Miami appear to steal passenger items; what they're accused of taking
Rekubit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-07 14:18:38
New surveillance video appears to show officers with the Transportation Security Administration stealing items from passengers' bags at Miami International Airport.
Labarrius Williams,SignalHub 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! (9526)
Related
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Kendra Wilkinson Shares Rare Update on Her Kids Hank and Alijah
- Jana Kramer Reveals She Lost “Almost Half Her Money” to Mike Caussin in Divorce
- District attorney’s office staffer tried to make a bomb to blow up migrant shelter, police say
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- ‘I love you but I hate you.’ What to do when you can’t stand your long-term partner
- Trump warns he’ll expel migrants under key Biden immigration programs
- 'Mighty strange': Tiny stretch of Florida coast hit with 3 hurricanes in 13 months
- Why members of two of EPA's influential science advisory committees were let go
- Judge tosses lawsuit against congressman over posts about man not involved in Chiefs’ rally shooting
Ranking
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Shohei Ohtani 50-50 home run ball: Auction starts with lawsuit looming
- Mary Bonnet Gives Her Take on Bre Tiesi and Chelsea Lazkani's Selling Sunset Drama
- Opinion: Antonio Pierce's cold 'business' approach reflects reality of Raiders' challenges
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Ex-regulator wants better protection for young adult gamblers, including uniform betting age
- Will Taylor Swift go to Chiefs-Chargers game in Los Angeles? What we know
- What time is Alycia Baumgardner vs. Delfine Persoon fight? Walk-in time for main event
Recommendation
Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
Joe Wolf, who played for North Carolina and 7 NBA teams, dies at 59
Upset alert for Notre Dame, Texas A&M? Bold predictions for Week 5 in college football
Fifth Harmony Alums Camila Cabello & Normani Reunite for First Time in 6 Years at Paris Fashion Week
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
Will Taylor Swift go to Chiefs-Chargers game in Los Angeles? What we know
The Fate of Thousands of US Dams Hangs in the Balance, Leaving Rural Communities With Hard Choices
Jana Kramer Reveals She Lost “Almost Half Her Money” to Mike Caussin in Divorce