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Transportation Security Administration

$42K In Sealed Toothpaste Boxes Lands PA Airport Staff Federal Sentence $42K In Sealed Toothpaste Boxes Lands PA Airport Staff Federal Sentence
$42K In Sealed Toothpaste Boxes Lands PA Airport Staff Federal Sentence A Philadelphia International Airport employee will spend six months in jail for trying to smuggle thousands of dollars past security, according to federal prosecutors.  Hugh James, 52, was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and a combined $1,200 in fines and fees, said the US Attorney's Office.  Authorities said James tried to board a flight from PHL to Montego Bay, Jamaica in October 2020 with $62,000 in undeclared cash in his luggage.  As "an employee with access to the secure area of the airport," investigators said James "arranged to have the cash smuggled…
Gun Seizures Surge At NYC Airports Gun Seizures Surge At NYC Airports
Gun Seizures Surge At NYC Airports Screeners at New York City airports caught travelers with an average of a gun a week last year, the TSA reported. The 51 handguns seized by Transportation Security Administration officers last year were 30% more than the 39 in 2022, the agency said on Wednesday, Jan. 10. "Each of the firearms were discovered by TSA officers during the routine screening of carry-on property at airport security checkpoints," TSA Spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said. Nationwide, TSA officers detected 6,737 firearms at airport security checkpoints in 2023, she said. That's 195 more than the year before. Of last ye…
AIRHEAD: LaGuardia Traveler In Skunky Diaper Makes TSA Top 10 List AIRHEAD: LaGuardia Traveler In Skunky Diaper Makes TSA Top 10 List
Airhead: LaGuardia Traveler In Skunky Diaper Makes TSA Top 10 List A traveler at LaGuardia Airport who stuffed pot into her adult diaper made the Top 10 list of unusual items snagged at TSA security checkpoints nationwide in 2023. There were some doozies in the list released on Tuesday, Jan. 9. They included: A knife found hidden inside a prosthetic leg at Anchorage Airport; Another knife stuffed inside a loaf of keto bread at Seattle-Tacoma Airport; Throwing knives found in a carry-on at Boston-Logan; A bag of meth inside a container of crab boil seasoning powder at -- where else? -- New Orleans Airport. Running just behind the leader -- an inert explos…
Man With Hidden Knife Wrapped To Arm Stopped At Philadelphia Airport: TSA Man With Hidden Knife Wrapped To Arm Stopped At Philadelphia Airport: TSA
Man With Hidden Knife Wrapped To Arm Stopped At Philadelphia Airport: TSA Transportation Security Administration officials said they seized a box cutter that a traveler had secreted in a bandage wrapped around their arm over the weekend at Philadelphia International Airport.  The unidentified traveler was flagged by TSA's screening process and then "self-reported" the utility knife concealed in their wrapped hand, said security officials.  The traveler first told TSA they only "stored" the blade there, then "palmed the blame off on their spouse and insisted the mistake was a joint effort," according to authorities.  View this p…
Florida Man Brings Loaded Gun To Pennsylvania Airport: TSA Florida Man Brings Loaded Gun To Pennsylvania Airport: TSA
Florida Man Brings Loaded Gun To Pennsylvania Airport: TSA A Florida man has yet again been caught with a loaded gun at a Pennsylvania airport and another man brought a loaded gun to Pennsylvania airport on Christmas Day — both claimed they found that they had their loaded guns on them.  Last December, another Florida man accidentally helped the Transportation Security Administration officers at Harrisburg International Airport set the record for most guns found in a year, with 10 guns. This year a Florida man is inching the TSA closer to that record, as the loaded gun found by officers at the x-ray machine is the 8th found at HIA in 2023…
BUNS & AMMO: LaGuardia TSA Finds Bullets Swaddled In Disposable Diaper BUNS & AMMO: LaGuardia TSA Finds Bullets Swaddled In Disposable Diaper
Buns & Ammo: LaGuardia TSA Finds Bullets Swaddled In Disposable Diaper A traveler blamed his girlfriend after TSA officers at LaGuardia Airport found 17 unwrapped bullets concealed in a baby diaper, authorities said. It gave new meaning to the term "dirty diaper," Transportation Security Administration Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said. The disposable diaper was removed from the Arkansas traveler's carry-on bag after it triggered an alarm on the X-ray belt was otherwise clean, Farbstein said. The man said he didn't know how the 9mm ammo ended up there. His girlfriend must have done it he said. That wasn't holding much water with TSA agents, who turned him and…
Travelers Bring Loaded Guns To PHL Two Days In A Row: TSA Travelers Bring Loaded Guns To PHL Two Days In A Row: TSA
Travelers Bring Loaded Guns To PHL Two Days In A Row: TSA Transportation Security Administration agents stopped area residents from boarding planes with loaded handguns at the Philadelphia International Airport two days in a row this week, officials announced.  The first incident involved a Coatesville man on Monday, Nov. 27, TSA said in a release. An X-ray unit at the security checkpoint revealed a 9mm handgun loaded with six bullets in his carry-on bag, according to authorities.  Then on Tuesday, Nov. 28, a Philadelphia man was also found with a 9mm in his bag — "loaded with seven bullets, including one in the chamber," said …
K9 Calendar Features Airport Bomb Dog Named For Ridgewood, NJ Woman Who Died In 9/11 Attack K9 Calendar Features Airport Bomb Dog Named For Ridgewood, NJ Woman Who Died In 9/11 Attack
K9 Calendar Features Airport Bomb Dog Named For Ridgewood, NJ Woman Who Died In 9/11 Attack A bomb dog named for a Bergen County woman who was among those slain at the World Trade Center in the 9/11 terror attacks is featured in the new 2024 monthly calendar produced by the federal Transportation Security Administration. Gina-Gina is a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois who works with her handler, Julie Guevara, at LaGuardia Airport. She was named after Gina Sztejnberg, 52, of Ridgewood, who worked as a database architect consultant for Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. on the 96th floor of the North Tower. Guevara has a special connection to that fateful day. She was among the New York F…
Passenger Caught With Firearm, Ammunition in Checked Bag At Bradley Airport In Windsor Locks Passenger Caught With Firearm, Ammunition in Checked Bag At Bradley Airport In Windsor Locks
Passenger Caught With Firearm, Ammunition in Checked Bag At Bradley Airport In Windsor Locks A passenger was arrested after they were caught with a firearm and numerous rounds in their checked bag at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, officials said. The incident happened in Hartford County on Monday, Oct. 30, when Transportation Security Administration officers at the airport, located in Windsor Locks, discovered an improperly packaged 9mm firearm inside the person's checked bag, TSA New England announced.  Officers also found 54 rounds inside the bag as well, officials said.  According to the TSA, firearms are only allowed to be transported in a lo…
Traveler Nabbed With Loaded Gun In Sneakers At LaGuardia Airport Traveler Nabbed With Loaded Gun In Sneakers At LaGuardia Airport
Traveler Nabbed With Loaded Gun In Sneakers At LaGuardia Airport A traveler was arrested by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers spotted a handgun and loaded gun magazine concealed inside a pair of sneakers packed inside a checked bag. The incident took place at LaGuardia Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 1. When the checked bag passed through the TSA explosives detection unit, it triggered an alarm, alerting TSA officers to open the bag to get a look at what caused the alarm.  What the officers found inside the luggage was a pair of white Nike high-top sneakers with green trim and inside was a .45 caliber semi-automatic gun in …
Gun At JFK Airport: Philly Traveler Busted By TSA With Loaded 9MM Firearm, Two Mags In Carry-On Gun At JFK Airport: Philly Traveler Busted By TSA With Loaded 9MM Firearm, Two Mags In Carry-On
Gun At JFK Airport: Philly Traveler Busted By TSA With Loaded 9MM Firearm, Two Mags In Carry-On A traveler from Philadelphia was arrested at JFK Airport after TSA officers found a loaded gun in his carry-on bag along with two extra magazines holding two dozen bullets, authorities said. The officers immediately notified Port Authority police, who seized the 9mm handgun and the ammo and took the man into custody on Sunday, Oct. 29, said Transportation Security Administration Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. In addition to the criminal charges will be a fine that potentially could reach $15,000 for bringing a weapon to an airport checkpoint, Farbstein said. SEE: Civil Penalties For Trying T…
'I Forgot': Long Island Man Caught Trying To Board LaGuardia Plane With Gun, TSA Says 'I Forgot': Long Island Man Caught Trying To Board LaGuardia Plane With Gun, TSA Says
'I Forgot': Long Island Man Caught Trying To Board LaGuardia Plane With Gun, TSA Says A Nassau County man was arrested after a security X-ray machine at LaGuardia Airport pointed TSA agents to a gun in his carry-on bag, authorities said. The 9mm caliber handgun was loaded with eight bullets (see photo inset above), said Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration. It was the eighth firearm picked off by TSA officers at the Queens airport so far this year, she said. Port Authority police seized the gun and arrested the Westbury resident, Farbstein said. He told them that he "forgot that he had his gun with him," she said. In addi…
Hatfield Man Tried To Board Plane With Loaded Gun, TSA Says Hatfield Man Tried To Board Plane With Loaded Gun, TSA Says
Hatfield Man Tried To Board Plane With Loaded Gun, TSA Says A Hatfield resident was cited and may face a federal fine after Transportation Security Administration agents said he entered a security checkpoint with a firearm.  It happened at Philadelphia International Airport on Wednesday, Oct. 11, after the X-ray scanner flagged his carry-on for additional screening, TSA said.  The gun, a.45-caliber pistol with a fully loaded magazine and one round in the chamber, was confiscated by police.  He could face up to a $15,000 civil penalty, TSA agents noted.  “Let me be very clear when I say that there is absolutely no excuse fo…
Flight Attendant Tried To Board Plane With Loaded Gun At PHL: Authorities Flight Attendant Tried To Board Plane With Loaded Gun At PHL: Authorities
Flight Attendant Tried To Board Plane With Loaded Gun At PHL: Authorities A flight attendant was arrested at Philadelphia International Airport on Friday, Sept. 15 after authorities say she tried to board a plane with a firearm.   The woman, an Arizona resident, was found to have a loaded .380 caliber handgun at the security checkpoint, said a Transportation Security Administration spokesperson.  She was arrested and may now face a federal fine, officials added.  The next day, Saturday, Sept. 16, agents said they thwarted a passenger from North Carolina from boarding with a loaded handgun. He faces the same financial penalty as the flight att…
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Fort Lee Flier, Newark Airport Employee Caught With Loaded Guns: TSA DOUBLE TROUBLE: Fort Lee Flier, Newark Airport Employee Caught With Loaded Guns: TSA
Double Trouble: Fort Lee Flier, Newark Airport Employee Caught With Loaded Guns: TSA TSA agents picked off two guns in a week's time when they caught both a traveler from Fort Lee and a woman who works in a terminal retail shop packing heat. Both weapons were loaded, said Transportation Security Administration Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. The man was caught with a .380-caliber handgun in his duffle bag as he tried to board a flight on Friday, Aug. 25, Farbstein said. The shop employee from Newark was caught with a 9mm pistol on her way to work (see photo inset above), she said. Both were taken into custody by Port Authority police, who also seized the weapons. The w…
'Inexcusable' Surprise Found In Traveler's Carry-On Bag At Albany International Airport 'Inexcusable' Surprise Found In Traveler's Carry-On Bag At Albany International Airport
'Inexcusable' Surprise Found In Traveler's Carry-On Bag At Albany International Airport For the fourth time this year, security screeners stopped a man from carrying a loaded gun onto a plane at Albany International Airport. Agents made the discovery during a routine x-ray screening of the traveler’s carry-on bag Tuesday, Aug. 15, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced. The Rensselaer County man, of Johnsonville, was found to have a 9mm handgun that was loaded with five bullets. Albany County Sheriff’s deputies confiscated the weapon. Earlier Report: 'Stiff Penalty' For Traveler Caught With Loaded Gun At Albany Airport Transportation officials said the…
'Good Catch On Busy Holiday': JFK Traveler Nabbed With Loaded Gun 'Good Catch On Busy Holiday': JFK Traveler Nabbed With Loaded Gun
'Good Catch On Busy Holiday': JFK Traveler Nabbed With Loaded Gun A “good catch on a busy holiday” produced the July 4th arrest of a Florida man who tried boarding a flight at Kennedy Airport with a loaded gun, authorities said. TSA officers detected the compact 9mm Smith & Wesson weapon in the man’s carry-on bag as he entered a security checkpoint at JFK, the Transportation Security Administration’s Lisa Farbstein said. The gun was loaded was 10 bullets, she said. Port Authority police seized the gun and arrested the traveler. In addition to criminal charges, he also faces federal penalties that can reach $15,000, authorities said. “We are seeing …
Gun Seized, NJ Man Busted During Busiest Travel Day Ever For Newark And US Airports Gun Seized, NJ Man Busted During Busiest Travel Day Ever For Newark And US Airports
Gun Seized, NJ Man Busted During Busiest Travel Day Ever For Newark And US Airports A Middlesex County man tried bringing a loaded gun aboard a flight at Newark Airport on what was the busiest travel day ever not only there but throughout the United States, authorities said. The Woodbridge resident was arrested and the weapon seized on Friday, July 1, as the July 4th travel weekend shifted into high gear, the Transportation Security Administration's Lisa Farbstein said. Criminal charges and a fine that can run as high as $15,000 follow, she said. TSA officers screened 2,884,683 travelers across the country on Friday and locally screened 83,041 passengers at Newark Liberty…
TSA Begins Busy July 4th Holiday Period Seizing Gun From Now-Ex JFK Airport Store Employee TSA Begins Busy July 4th Holiday Period Seizing Gun From Now-Ex JFK Airport Store Employee
TSA Begins Busy July 4th Holiday Period Seizing Gun From Now-Ex JFK Airport Store Employee An employee at a shop in JFK Airport lost his job after TSA agents caught him carrying a loaded gun in his backpack, authorities said. Port Authority police arrested the Queens resident and seized the .45-caliber handgun, Transportation Security Administration Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said. He also was forced to surrender his airport security badge, which is required of everyone who works on the secure side of the airport, Farbstein said. Without it, he couldn't continue working at the retail shop,  she said. In addition to his arrest, the man faces a potential fine of up to $15,00…
Gun Found, Vegas Traveler Seized During One Of TSA's Busiest-Ever Screening Days At Newark Gun Found, Vegas Traveler Seized During One Of TSA's Busiest-Ever Screening Days At Newark
Gun Found, Vegas Traveler Seized During One Of TSA's Busiest-Ever Screening Days At Newark A gun turned up at a security checkpoint at Newark Airport during what was the TSA's ninth all-time busiest day screening travelers there, authorities said. The 9mm handgun, which wasn't loaded, was spotted at a checkpoint X-ray machine in Terminal C on Sunday, June 25, the Transportation Security Administration's Lisa Farbstein said. The traveler from Las Vegas, who was arrested by Port Authority police, was among 78,333 who were screened at Newark's TSA checkpoints -- and 2.7 million who passed through at airports nationwide, Farbstein said. "Summer travel season is in full swing and ou…
'Stiff Penalty' For Traveler Caught With Loaded Gun At Albany Airport 'Stiff Penalty' For Traveler Caught With Loaded Gun At Albany Airport
'Stiff Penalty' For Traveler Caught With Loaded Gun At Albany Airport Security screeners stopped a man from carrying a loaded gun onto a plane at an airport in the region. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers made the discovery Monday, June 19, at Albany International Airport, the agency announced. During a routine X-ray screening, the Troy man was found to have a loaded .380 caliber gun inside his duffle bag along with his clothing. The TSA agent immediately contacted the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, which came to the checkpoint and initially confiscated the weapon. Deputies later allowed the man to leave the airport to secure his gun …
Staten Island Flyer Caught With Loaded Gun At Newark Airport Checkpoint Staten Island Flyer Caught With Loaded Gun At Newark Airport Checkpoint
Staten Island Flyer Caught With Loaded Gun At Newark Airport Checkpoint A Staten Island man was caught trying to bring a loaded gun onto a flight at Newark Airport early Wednesday, authorities said. A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer spotted the .38-caliber revolver – loaded with seven rounds -- as the owner’s belongings passed through the X-ray machine at the Terminal A checkpoint the morning of June 21, the TSA’s Lisa Farbstein said. The man was taken into custody and the gun seized by Port Authority police. The incident came just four days after TSA agents at Newark found a traveler from Philadelphia with a semi-automatic handgun in a ca…
Man Caught With Loaded Gun At Westchester County Airport Security Checkpoint Man Caught With Loaded Gun At Westchester County Airport Security Checkpoint
Man Caught With Loaded Gun At Westchester County Airport Security Checkpoint A man faces charges after he was stopped from bringing a loaded handgun onto a flight at Westchester County Airport and then found to be in possession of multiple credit cards with different names.  The incident happened on Tuesday, May 30, when a Hamilton County man from Long Lake entered the security checkpoint at Westchester County Airport and was found to be in possession of a .380 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets in his carry-on bag, according to TSA Northeast spokesperson Lisa Farbstein.  The man was also found to be carrying multiple credit cards each with …
Gun Loaded With 15 Bullets Detected By TSA At Norfolk International Airport Gun Loaded With 15 Bullets Detected By TSA At Norfolk International Airport
Gun Loaded With 15 Bullets Detected By TSA At Norfolk International Airport A Virginia man tried bringing a handgun loaded with 15 bullets onto a flight at Norfolk International Airport over Memorial Day Weekend, authorities said. The Dumfries man's gun was caught as he entered the security checkpoint, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which required a closer inspection. The firearm was removed by the local police. The man also faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons recently increased to a maximum of $15,000. The case will be forwarded t…
Traveler Caught With Loaded Gun During Security Screening At Albany Airport Traveler Caught With Loaded Gun During Security Screening At Albany Airport
Traveler Caught With Loaded Gun During Security Screening At Albany Airport Security screeners stopped a man from carrying a loaded gun onto a plane at an airport in the region. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers made the discovery Tuesday, May 9, at Albany International Airport, the agency announced. During a routine screening, the Guilderland man was found to be carrying a semi-automatic 9mm handgun loaded with seven rounds. None of the bullets were chambered. It was not immediately clear whether the man would face civil penalties, as the agency reiterated it has the right to do for travelers found to be carrying guns or gun parts. Tuesday’s…
Back-To-Back Guns Seized At Newark Airport From Rockland, Brooklyn Travelers: TSA Back-To-Back Guns Seized At Newark Airport From Rockland, Brooklyn Travelers: TSA
Back-To-Back Guns Seized At Newark Airport From Rockland, Brooklyn Travelers: TSA One day it was a traveler from Rockland -- and before that, one from Brooklyn. Both were armed. The two passengers from New York were each stopped trying to bring loaded 9mm handguns onto flights at Newark Airport on back-to-back days, authorities said. Both now face hefty fines. The incidents at security checkpoints in Terminal B involved a Brooklyn traveler on Wednesday, May 3, and another from Garnerville on Thursday, Transportation Security Administration Spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said. The incidents weren't related, she said. "In each instance when a TSA officer spotted the guns in…
Guess Why Southbound Traveler At Newark Airport Said There Was A Gun In His Bag Guess Why Southbound Traveler At Newark Airport Said There Was A Gun In His Bag
Guess Why Southbound Traveler At Newark Airport Said There Was A Gun In His Bag Another traveler gave what TSA officials say has become a familiar excuse after being arrested trying to bring a loaded gun onto a flight at Newark Liberty International Airport. "I forgot," said the airline customer from Georgia after a TSA agent at one of Newark Airport's checkpoint X-ray machines spotted a .38-caliber handgun in the man's carry-on bag. It was loaded with six bullets, Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said on Friday, April 28. Officers alerted Port Authority police, who arrested the Southern man -- and seized the gun, she said. Farbstein…
Liberty Man Caught With Gun, Bullets At JFK, TSA Says Liberty Man Caught With Gun, Bullets At JFK, TSA Says
Liberty Man Caught With Gun, Bullets At JFK, TSA Says A man from the region was arrested by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers detected a handgun and bullets in his carry-on bag at a JFK airport security checkpoint. The Sullivan County resident, from the town of Liberty, was charged on Wednesday, April 19 after the unloaded firearm was found alongside five bullets in a gun magazine said TSA officials. The man's name is pending release by the New York New Jersey Port Authority.  The handgun was detected when the man entered the security checkpoint with his carry-on items. The checkpoint X-ray unit triggered…
'Not Mine,' Says Traveler Caught With Gun, Ammo At JFK Airport: TSA 'Not Mine,' Says Traveler Caught With Gun, Ammo At JFK Airport: TSA
'Not Mine,' Says Traveler Caught With Gun, Ammo At JFK Airport: TSA An upstate New York man not only insisted he had "no idea" how a gun and ammunition for it ended up in his carry-on bag at JFK Airport, authorities said. "He also claimed the gun didn't belong to him," TSA Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said. The firearm with a separate box containing five bullets triggered an alarm at a Transportation Security Administration X-ray unit on Wednesday, April 19, Farbstein said. Port Authority police summoned to the checkpoint took the Liberty, NY, man into custody and seized the gun and ammo, she said Thursday. “It is the busy spring travel season," said John…
TSA Catches Man With Loaded Magazines, Handgun At Reagan National Airport TSA Catches Man With Loaded Magazines, Handgun At Reagan National Airport
TSA Catches Man With Loaded Magazines, Handgun At Reagan National Airport A Tennessee man who tried boarding a flight at Reagan National Airport with a gun and loaded magazines was stopped thanks to Transportation Security Administration agents. The man had a .40 caliber unloaded gun at the airport on Saturday, April 15, TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said. While the gun was not loaded, he had two loaded magazines with 19 bullets packed alongside the weapon. The firearm was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on a carry-on bag, which was searched and the firearm removed by a Metropolitan Washington Airpo…
Handgun Seized From Traveler By TSA Officers At Dulles International Airport Handgun Seized From Traveler By TSA Officers At Dulles International Airport
Handgun Seized From Traveler By TSA Officers At Dulles International Airport For the second time this week, a traveler from Virginia was busted attempting to bring a handgun onto a flight. TSA officers were able to prevent a man from King George from bringing an unloaded 9mm handgun onto a plane at Dulles International Airport after it was flagged by security as he entered attempted to go through checkpoint. An X-ray captured the gun and alerted officers to the weapon in the man’s carry-on bag. Members of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police were then called in to confiscate the gun, and the traveler was cited on a weapons charge. He alleged that h…