Says 'Hundreds' Accused Of Misconduct
A disturbing report by
a non-profit journalism watchdog organization paints a frightening
picture of the state of the Federal Air Marshal Service.
USA Today reports an investigation by ProPublica revealed over
three dozen air marshals have been charged with crimes -- including
drunken driving, unauthorized use of firearms, sexual misconduct
with a minor and attempted smuggling of explosives. Hundreds more
have been accused of misconduct, according to the report.
The watchdog group claims a review of police reports, court
documents, and private correspondences revealed 18 marshals have
been charged with felonies. Three of those workers were hired
despite prior criminal records, or having been fired from other
jobs in law enforcement. A fourth was allegedly under FBI
investigation when hired.
Others apparently turned to crime after being hired. The report
cites the example of Shawn Nguyen, who filed for bankruptcy two
weeks after being hired by FAMS in April 2002. Three years later,
he was caught transporting cash and cocaine past airport security
to a drug trafficker who had turned informant to the FBI.
"I don't care what's in the [expletive] package, you know what I
mean? Just tell me how much it is and what I'm getting in money,"
Nguyen allegedly told the informant in a recorded conversation.
"I'm the man with the golden badge." He was later sentenced to
seven years in prison.
Another air marshal, Brian "Cooter" Phelps, allegedly asked a
fellow marshal to find a hit man (nicknamed "the Crucifixer"...
you can't make this stuff up -- Ed.) to make
his ex-wife "disappear." Other examples cited in the report include
Michael McGowan, who used his status as an air marshal to lure a
young boy into his hotel room.
Prior to 9/11, only 33
registered air marshals were employed in the federal government.
That number swelled to between 3,000 to 4,000 in the years since,
when the program came under the massive bureaucracy of the
Transportation Security Administration.
While allowing for the truism these examples are likely of a few
rotten apples spoiling the bunch, USA Today notes there is evidence
of a still-greater problem. This spring, US embassies and airlines
complained to FAMS of misconduct of its agents during overseas
deployments... to the point the director of the Air Marshal
Service, Robert Bray, reportedly sent supervisors on international
goodwill missions, and to monitor the marshals.
"We can reassure the public that these dedicated professionals
go out there every day and put their lives on the line to make sure
that everyone is safe," Bray said following the recent report. "I
don't want them to be tarred by ... a few allegations from a few
years ago."
That statement doesn't wash with those from current and former
air marshals, however... who say the trouble exists today in part
due to unclear job specifications, and general turmoil within the
agency. FAMS has had three directors since 9/11, and has been
placed under the authority of four different agencies.
Former FAMS officer Don Strange, who was a finalist to lead the
agency in 2006, said low morale has resulted in high turnover rates
for agents... resulting in the need for fast hiring practices,
which make it harder to hold applicants to high
standards.
"It starts with the urgency (to hire and train recruits) in a
ridiculous amount of time," he says. "Things start to spin out of
control."
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.13.24)
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