Posted at 2:20 p.m., Thursday, March 30, 2006
Former TSA workers admit stealing from tourists
By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer
Benny Arcano and Christopher J. Cadorna now each face a prison term of up to 10 years when they are sentenced July 17, but both have agreed to cooperate. That could lead to a reduced sentence.
The two are the first TSA screeners here to be prosecuted for stealing from passengers.
Arcano admitted he took Japanese yen worth about $1,816 from a suitcase and put it in his pocket on March 4, 2004. He also acknowledged that he stole Japanese yen three other times. The amounts totaled more than $3,000 in U.S. dollars, his plea agreement said.
Arcano estimated that from March 2004 to 2005, there were about 20 other thefts totaling about $20,000 in U.S. dollars. He received from others about $7,000, he said.
Cadorna admitted to taking Japanese yen worth about $800 from a suitcase and stealing Japanese currency about eight times in 2004 and 2005. The amounts ranged from $300 to $2,500 in U.S. dollars.
Cadorna also said in his plea agreement that in 2004 and 2005, he received about $10,000 from other TSA screeners.
Federal authorities said the investigation is continuing. They declined to say how many others were involved in the thefts at the airport.
