TSA agent arrested for human smuggling ring

Thursday, September 19, 2013 by: J. D. Heyes
Tags: TSA agent, human smuggling, government corruption

(NaturalNews) The lawlessness of individuals hired to work for the Transportation Security Administration knows no bounds, as the latest incident involving the hapless, feckless agency proves.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents recently arrested TSA officer David Alexander Diaz-Torres for "conspiracy to transport illegal aliens within the United States," according to court documents filed by the U.S. District Attorney's office in Puerto Rico. So now, in addition to theft, sexual deviancy, drug use and gross violations of travelers' privacy, we can add human smuggling to the long and growing list of TSA agent legal violations.

Time for more spin

According to a statement released by the Puerto Rico district attorney's office:

On August 7, 2013, Rafael Severino, Eduard Bueno-Beltran, Luis Raul Sierra-Conde, Juan Severino-Basora and Esther Mary Sanchez-Cruz were indicted for participating in a scheme to bring illegal aliens to the United States. On March 24, 2012, a group of Brazilian nationals were smuggled by an unidentified female to New York through the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is alleged that David A. Diaz-Torres assisted two co-defendants in smuggling the group of Brazilians by allowing them to pass the security checkpoint area without being questioned. The group continued to New York, Boston and Philadelphia on board commercial flights.

And, of course, the government is spinning this latest TSA embarrassment, as it has all prior embarrassments.

"It is very troubling when law enforcement authorities have to arrest a corrupt federal employee who is alleged to have undermined our nation's security, our overall safety, and the public trust and confidence we place in those chosen to protect and serve," said Rosa Emilia Rodriguez Velez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. "The Justice Department's commitment to preventing human smuggling, bringing smugglers to justice and assisting victims has never been stronger."

"Mr. Torres was placed in a position of trust and employees of the federal government must be held to a higher standard than the general public," added Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan and U.S. Virgin Islands. "Investigative efforts by HSI alongside our federal partners at the TSA, shows the collaborative effort within federal law enforcement to ensure that no one operates above the law."

This, from an administration that is, in fact, releasing dangerous criminal illegal aliens.

A history of abuses

But I digress. In other recent criminal activity regarding TSA and its employees:

-- The Los Angeles Times reports that a former TSA agent was arrested in connection with "unspecified threats" that were related to the 9/11 attacks. When he was still a TSA employee, Nna Alpha Onuoha, 29, was involved in a high-profile incident in which he shamed and embarrassed a 15-year-old girl over what she was wearing.

The Times reported that Onuoha "was taken into custody in Riverside before midnight after he allegedly made threats against LAX terminals earlier in the day following his resignation from his post as a screener with the Transporation Security Administration. A source familiar with the investigation told The Times that Onuoha is the same agent who was suspended after he criticized the daughter of Mark Frauenfelder, founder of the blog Boing Boing."

-- Eight TSA agents from Dallas-Fort Worth were recently arrested for allegedly dealing in stolen parking passes. Authorities say the agents allegedly bought the passes, which they knew were stolen, for $100, so as to avoid paying some $400 a year to park at the DFW International Airport.

-- TSA agents at scores of airports around the country are regularly accused - and rightfully so - of fondling the genitals of men, women and even small children.

-- In June 2012, In an extremely critical report released in early June, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn listed 50 crimes that have been committed by TSA agents.

"TSA needs to immediately remove themselves from the human resource business. This report details highly disturbing cases where pedophiles and child pornographers wearing federal law enforcement uniforms are not only patting down unsuspecting travelers, but in many cases stealing valuables from their bags," she said. "Enough is enough. It's time for Congress to step in and demand accountability from Administrator (John) Pistole."

Sources:

http://freebeacon.com/tsa-agent-arrested-for-smuggling-illegal-aliens/

http://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/pr/2013/oigpr_091213.pdf

http://cnsnews.com

http://www.latimes.com

https://www.naturalnews.com/030302_TSA_naked_body_scanners.html