2002-11-14 -- Newark Airport Fake ID Arrests -- Criminal Complaints -- News Release

Newark Airport Employees Arrested, Charged with Using Phony Documents for Employment and Gaining Access to Secure Areas

NEWARK - Eleven workers at Newark Liberty International Airport were arrested today and 10 others were being sought after all 21 were charged with using false identification documents to get jobs at the airport that gave them access to high-security areas, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The employees, all of whom worked for private contractors in cleaning and security jobs, had access to restricted areas around aircraft and in and around baggage-handling facilities, according to information contained in criminal complaints. Certain of the defendants used their bogus identification to receive U.S. Customs Service holograms, which granted them special access to parts of the airport's international facility, Christie said.

There is currently no evidence to suggest that any of the individuals charged today are related to any terrorist organizations or intended to commit any acts of terrorism.

"This obviously raises serious questions about security at the airport," Christie said. "If these individuals could simply present false identifications and false social security numbers to be employed at the airport, others with more nefarious intentions could do the same. I don't need to tell anyone how serious a matter this is in the aftermath of September 11. "

The defendants, who are identified by name, age and employment in an addendum to this release, are charged variously with Social Security fraud, document fraud, or making false statements:

• Many defendants are charged with falsely representing a social security number as though it were their genuine account number, in order to obtain an Airport Security Identification Display Area, known as a "SIDA" badge. According to the complaints, defendants signed a written application that their employer submitted to Port Authority - which contained background information including the employee's social security number. This offense carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

• Many defendants are charged with possessing and using a counterfeit Social Security and/or alien registration card, knowing that the cards were counterfeit. In order to obtain a SIDA badge, applicants had to present two forms of identification, such as these items. This offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

• Four defendants are charged with making materially false statements about their social security number in order to obtain a Customs hologram. This offense carries a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Each of the defendants is scheduled to make initial appearances at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Donald Haneke.

Each of the defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

A multi-agency task force worked on this project. Christie credited the following agencies for developing today's cases: Special Agents with the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Jane Hughes, in Iselin; Special Agents of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, under the direction of District Director Andrea Quarantillo, in Newark; police with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, under the direction of Charles D. DeRienzo, Superintendent of Police; Special Agents with the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Ned Schwartz, Special Agent in Charge; Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Louie F. Allen, in Newark; Special Agents of the U.S. Customs Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Webber; Deputy U.S. Marshals, under the direction of U.S. Marshal James Plousis.

Christie also thanked State Troopers of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Acting Superintendent Frederick Madden; Essex County Sheriff's Deputies, under the direction of Sheriff Armando Fontura; and the Transportation Security Administration.

The aiport project was coordinated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Rabner, Chief of the U.S. Attorney's Office Terrorism Unit. Individual cases are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Garcia, Chris Gramiccioni, Margaret Mahoney, Joyce Malliet, Eli Richardson, and Maureen Ruane.

-end-

Airport Employee Defendants

Bayas, Luis, Age 47, 225 Orchard St., Elizabeth Lisbon Cleaning Inc.

Biscaia, Carlos, Age 34, 82 Walnut St., Newark Lisbon Cleaning Inc.

Carrillo, Danny, Age 28, 47 North 9th St., Newark Lisbon Cleaning Inc.

Couceiro, Lucinda, Age 35, 142 Fleming Ave., Newark, Lisbon Cleaning Inc.

Galindo, Luis, Age 62, 147 Quincy Ave., Kearny, Lisbon Cleaning Inc.

Martinez, Paola, Age 27, 1000 Monroe Ave., Apt. 1R, Elizabeth, Kelly's Janitorial Service, Inc.

Prohano, Elva, Age 54, 424 Ridge St., Newark, Lisbon Cleaning Inc.

Ponce, Pedro, Age 55, 2015 Bedl Pl., Elizabeth, Lisbon Cleaning Inc.

Santamaria, Marisol, Age 42, 26 Niles St., Elizabeth, Kelly's Janitorial Service, Inc.

Tapia, Graciela, Age 37, 249 E. Kinney St., Newark, Lisbon Cleaning Inc.

Perez Nunez, Aleskair, Age 31, 554 Ferry Street, Apt. 1, Newark, Haynes Security