Time to REPEAL the Whole Dept. of Homeland Security - TSA worker stole watches, debit card from LAX bags

TSA worker stole watches, debit card from LAX bags, officials say - latimes.com

L.A. Now July 22, 2011

short post-

A Transportation Security Administration officer has been indicted on five charges in the theft of four watches and a pre-paid debit card from luggage at Los Angeles International Airport, officials announced Friday.

A federal grand jury indicted Paul Yashou, 38, of Torrance, on two felony and three misdemeanor theft counts Friday afternoon.

Yashou is alleged to have stolen the items from luggage going through security at LAX’s Terminal 1, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office said. According to the indictment, one of the watches was valued at about $15,000, another at $5,000 and two at $1,000. The pre-paid debit card was valued at $1,000.

Authorities arrested Yashou on June 23 at his home after an investigation revealed the $15,000 watch had been sold to a jewelry store that had tried to sell the item on EBay. The owner of the watch noticed it was listed on the website, prompting the investigation.

Yashou faces the felony counts for the $15,000 and $5,000 watches. Each felony count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The three misdemeanor counts each carry a maximum of one year in prison.

Yashou is due back in U.S. District Court on Aug. 3 for his arraignment.

REPEAL the TSA: Agent Caught With Passenger's iPad in His Pants; poss. Took $50,000 in Other Goods, Cops Say

TSA Agent Caught With Passenger's iPad in His Pants; Allegedly Took $50,000 in Other Goods, Cops Say - Broward/Palm Beach News - The Daily Pulp

By Matthew Hendley 7-7-11Thu., Jul. 7 2011 [full short post go to link]

While most Transportation Security Administration employees are busy groping people or taking naked pictures of them, the cops say one of those employees was putting fliers' electronics down his pants.

The Broward Sheriff's Office says 30-year-old Nelson Santiago stole around $50,000 worth of electronics over the past six months from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's Terminal 1.

Santiago -- a TSA officer since 2009 -- was caught earlier this week by a Continental Airlines employee taking an iPad out of someone's luggage and stuffing it into his pants, the cops say.

After being arrested Monday on two counts of grand theft, police say Santiago admitted to stealing computers, GPS devices, video cameras, and other electronic merchandise from luggage he was supposed to be screening.

The cops say Santiago would immediately take pictures of his new goods and upload the photos online to sell the stuff.

Santiago would typically sell the stolen goods to people before his shift was even over, police say.

BSO detectives estimate that Santiago's haul totaled $50,000 over the past six months.

The cops are looking for people whose stuff has been stolen, although they say the chances of getting the stuff back are slim.

Santiago was released from jail on bond, although police say more charges against him are pending.

According to police, Santiago no longer works with the TSA. [That's a surprise!]