A security employee at John F. Kennedy International Airport has been charged with stealing $80,000 (euro67,000) in cash from a checked suitcase headed for Pakistan, a district attorney's office said.
The Transportation Security Administration screener, Frank Ulerio, Jr., 23, allegedly stole the money when he was inspecting checked luggage on Oct. 7 in a Pakistan International Airlines area at the airport. Prosecutors said he stole the cash from the suitcase of a 45-year-old passenger from Queens, New York City, who was flying to Pakistan.
The victim discovered the theft when he landed in Pakistan and police from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, began an investigation.
When confronted, Ulerio admitted stealing $60,000 (euro50,200) and said he used some of it to pay off a gambling debt. Police recovered $18,000 (euro15,000) when he was arrested at work Wednesday.
Ulerio faces charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison, said Kevin Ryan, a spokesman for district attorney's office, on Thursday.
The owner of the money did not declare the cash but Ryan said he was never asked if he had anything to declare and likely will not be charged with a crime.
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