This is why so many people are scared of flying link: http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/10/tsa-agent-helped-himself-to-a-47-900-camera-and-more/
Really? $50 says that if you look this guy up in a year he will have got in some major legal trouble over this.
maybe because it made the news but not 10% the trouble of some bum robbing 200$ from a liquor store. He needs a bullet. There should be zero tolerance of corruption by government employees.
If it's anything like most gub-mint agencies, they will have a bunch of "why we shouldn't steal" classes and call it a day. My "surprise-o-meter" is barely registering over this. All those TSA clowns are shady as hell. We bring it on ouselves, people: if we hired honest, intelligent people we'd have to pay them more, and our ticket prices would go up......Holy Christ, we can't let that happen now can we?
Judge blocks honeymoon for Newark Airport screener accused of stealing by Jeff Whelan/The Star-Ledger Wednesday October 08, 2008, 5:17 PM Despite being charged with stealing dozens of cameras, laptops and other electronic equipment from airplane passengers, a screener at Newark Liberty International Airport had hoped to hop aboard his own flight next week to enjoy his honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. But a federal judge today flatly denied that request. Pythias Brown, a screener with the Transportation Security Administration, appeared in federal court in Newark this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Esther Salas to face theft charges that could put him behind bars for up to 10 years. Brown allegedly stole the items from the passengers he was supposed to protect and put them up for sale on eBay. "I understand Mr. Brown has plans ... but the fact is, the circumstances have changed," Salas said during the hearing. "I'm not going to, at this juncture, permit him to travel on the honeymoon." The judge's ruling came after bail arguments in which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny Kramer urged Salas to restrict Brown's travel and order him to surrender his passport. Brown's attorney, assistant federal public defender Anthony Thomas, said the defendant and his fiancee are to wed on Sunday. He said the couple then planned to fly to the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon on Tuesday and return Oct. 24. Thomas said the a criminal complaint filed in the case shows Brown has been "fully compliant" with investigators and gave them a "lengthy statement." Brown confessed, according to an affidavit filed by the lead investigator in the case. The defense attorney also said Brown appeared in court on a summons, and authorities did not have to track him down. He complained about the timing of the charges by federal investigators. "Obviously, they could have waited until Mr. Brown returned from the Dominican Republic," he said, adding there is nothing to suggest Brown is a flight risk. "There is absolutely no reason why Mr. Brown and his fiancee cannot ... enjoy their nuptials in the Dominican Republic." But Kramer noted Brown's driver's license has been suspended on "numerous occasions" in the past and he failed to appear in traffic court for those violations. She also said his financial troubles -- he previously filed for bankruptcy -- and lack of employment could make him a flight risk. Transportation Security Administration officials have put Brown on administrative leave and said they would fire him. The judge agreed with the prosecutor, saying she was particularly troubled by Brown's failure to appear in traffic court on routine matters. With the stakes so much higher in this case, she said, she couldn't risk allowing him to leave the country. Salas ordered Brown released on a $100,000 unsecured bond, a bail amount agreed upon by the prosecutor and the defense. Brown, wearing a blue pinstriped suit and eyeglasses to the hearing and accompanied by his fiancee, declined to comment after the hearing. His attorney also declined to comment. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/judge_blocks_honeymoon_for_new.html
Saw this elsewhere last week. The dumb fucker got too greedy. It's one thing to steal someone's laptop or digital camera, but stealing broadcast cameras is just stupid. The resale market is just too small not draw attention. Hang the worthless motherfucker.
Where's the one place in the world where civil rights have no meaning? The airport. You essentially give up any rights you have to the TSA and even to the bimbo stewardesses. Not "obeying" orders from the stewardess can actually get you arrested by federal agents in some isntances. True story: I was travelling with someone in law enforcement about two years ago when all that "liquid bomb" hysteria started after the UK arrested a bunch of terrorists. As a result, the government overreacted and all liquids and gels were banned from carry-on bags. Anyway, my travel companion was carrying his sidearm and had all the necessary paperwork so he could bring it onboard. However, when the CTSA monkeys (roughly equivalent to the TSA) checked his overnight bag they advised him that he wouldn't be able to take the toothpaste and shaving cream onboard. They said this with deadly seriousness. My friend looked at his sidearm, the CTSA officer and his toothpaste. He then just shook his head and said "Fuck it. Take the damn toothpaste."
I hear that! One of my buds (flying in military uniform to the ME on a charter flight during the Iraq War) could carry his 9 mil pistol and ammo with him (and drink beer) but had to have his knife in his duffel bag (in the baggage compartment of course) because it was a "threat."
12 THOUSAND missing a week in the US alone?! FUCK! That blows my mind. How the hell is that possible?
I rarely fly, but I try to never check baggage. If I can't fit it all in one carry-on, I'm bringing too much crap with me.
String him up by the balls. (Y'know that's a phrase people often use.. but I wonder if it would actually be possible. I don't think the scrotum could actually support its owner's weight without ripping off. Guys like this TSA scumbag would make good test subjects to find out though.)
