Two Transportation Security Administration employees have been charged with theft after they allegedly stole money from the suitcases of Japanese tourists heading back to Japan, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The two men, Benny Arcano and Christopher Cadorna, were charged by information complaint Friday with felony theft for allegedly stealing yen valued at more than $1,000 in U.S. currency from Japanese tourists during 2004 and 2005.

"We will always take government corruption in any form very seriously, and whoever decides to line their pocket because of greed should always expect us to aggressively investigate and prosecute them," said U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo.

The men were two of four TSA employees suspended in March 2005 after several federal agencies opened investigations into allegations of theft at Honolulu International Airport.

"TSA holds its officers to the highest standards," said Jessica Altschul, a TSA spokeswoman in Washington, D.C. "The actions of a minuscule percentage in no way reflects the organization as a whole."

The investigation was handled by the TSA's law enforcement arm, as well as special agents from the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's Office.

TSA officials have said the alleged thefts came to their attention after other screeners reported them.

In response to the suspensions and the investigation, TSA is considering shift changes every six months for the more than 700 full- and part-time federal screeners.

Figures reported in November 2004 show airline travelers to Hawai'i have filed more than $100,000 in theft or damage claims against TSA since it began screening luggage here in 2002.

The bulk of the Hawai'i claims — 248 claims totaling about $91,000 — were reported in Honolulu, ranking Honolulu International Airport 30th in the nation for the number of claims, according to information obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request made by a Denver television station.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.