TSA Agents Caught Allegedly Stealing From Bags in Miami

Traveling through an airport is already considered by many to be a stressful endeavor. Now, travelers may have to worry about their money and valuables disappearing. Not by mistake, but on purpose.

Theft at the Airport

In July, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at Miami International Airport (MIA) received a complaint about missing cash from a passenger who had passed through one of the airport's security checkpoints. 

A TSA agent following up with the passenger's complaint decided to check surveillance footage of the security checkpoint. The now-released security footage shows TSA agents Josue Gonzalez and Labarrius Williams subtly inspecting and stealing valuables such as money from passengers' bags at MIA airport's security checkpoint E. 

After stealing passengers' valuables or cash and putting them in their pockets, the two TSA agents would then push their bags along the line and into the scanners. Surveillance footage shows this type of theft occurring on multiple occasions throughout late June and early July. 

On July 6, Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. Williams were arrested and charged in relation to the case. According to CBS News, the police report filed shortly after the arrest states that the pair of men would "...distract passengers as they were being screened to steal monies from their belongings...." 

A third TSA agent, Ms. Elizabeth Fuster, was also arrested for allegedly distracting passengers and aiding the men in stealing valuables and cash. 

Of the trio, Fuster has had her case dropped, while Gonzalez has been accepted into a deferred prosecution program, which has the potential to see his charges dropped if he meets the conditions of the program. 

Miami-Dade county prosecutors have stated that Williams has not pleaded guilty and has his trial set for October 23. 

According to the arrest affidavit, "...The men took as much as $600 from a wallet..." Later in a formal interview at a TSA Command Center, Gonzalez and Fuster, who had waived their right to remain silent and gave written statements, admitted to stealing as much as $1000 a day when working together. 

Decreasing Confidence in the TSA

Many passengers who have seen the video of the thefts have claimed that this is not uncommon at TSA checkpoints. Many passengers commented that they've had similar experiences at different airports of going through a TSA checkpoint and having valuables or cash missing from their luggage afterward.

"We trust the TSA got it and they wouldn't do anything, tamper with my stuff" states passenger Sola Jeged.

The TSA had this to say:

"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. We actively and aggressively investigated these allegations of misconduct and presented our findings to [Miami-Dade Police], and are working closely with them. Any employee who fails to meet our fundamental ethical standards is held accountable" 

"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." states Former Miami-Dade County Police Major Ignacio Alvarez. According to him, passengers should never place valuables on open trays, instead, they should opt to put them in their bags and never lose sight of their valuables as they make their way through the security scanners. 

According to a formerly convicted TSA agent, Pythias Brown, the culture of indifference that allowed him to steal more than $800,000 in valuables and cash from passengers in the early 2000s still prevails within the TSA to this day. According to Brown, employees at the federal agency steal because of three reasons - being underpaid, working in poor conditions, and simply, because of the fact that they can get away with it.