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Newark Liberty International employee accused of faking identity for 20 years
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The security supervisor at new -- Liberty International Airport in New Jersey stole a dead man's identity and used it for nearly twenty years and passed a bunch of background checks.
That's according to the port authority of new York New Jersey which runs that airport.
Police arrested a -- yesterday that's key on the right there today pleaded not guilty -- identity theft charges in state court.
A -- said the suspect managed a team of private security guards who kept an -- on airport checkpoints over the overnight periods.
They also inspected the delivery trucks for potential security threats.
For some context Newark liberty is among the fifteen busiest airports in the nation and among the top thirty in all the world.
More than 34 million passengers reported to have traveled through that airport just last year.
The chief fox -- correspondent Jonathan Hunt is here in studio with -- what else we know about I mean twenty years he did not a fake ID it said -- -- It's extraordinary his real name is bimbo all -- -- now back in 1992.
He took the name Gerry Thomas 1992 with the same here a man by that name Gerry Thomas.
Was murdered in New York City no word from the cops today.
On whether this man is now a suspect in the murder of -- Thomas but the worrying thing here.
Is during his work as a security supervisor he passed a series of background checks with the New Jersey State Police with the US Customs and Border Protection.
And with FJCFTC.
Security the company contracted by the TSA.
Now the port authority of -- huge new York and New Jersey which runs you look at -- issued a statement through -- spokesman Steve Coleman today saying in pop.
Our leadership cold and spoke with -- FJC security today and will meet with them in the coming days to take every legally permissible -- To recheck their security personnel on a regular basis.
To protect our customers employees and facilities and you could be shoulder these sort of investigations just beginning -- Remember seeing other signs of some lax security at some very big airports yet the office of the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security is just issued a -- They looked at six airports in new look was one of them and they found that it -- in particular.
Only 42%.
Of security breaches were reported on the and then further action taken on.
Now that compares with just over 50% of the other five airports clearly there is a great concern here and -- politicians -- -- Apple hill a looking at this the Homeland Security transportation security subcommittee.
Is going to hold a hearing in fact tomorrow -- -- let's bring in the former director managing director of the national transportation secretary safety board Peter goals is -- -- He specializes in aviation and transportation safety Peter good to see what -- think of this.
Well and I think what -- points out is than a decade after 9/11 and billions of dollars spent.
There -- still tremendous holes in the system it's unacceptable.
Why why is it happening are are are they still in the -- to just make us feel like we're safe for -- -- what's the problem.
Well I think I think this system was put together on the run.
And there was a lot of money thrown that in this case it wasn't as though there was some sort of screen.
That pulled this guy out this was a tip.
From somebody he could have served on for another five years without anyone knowing.
And I think I think it points out.
Just how vulnerable certain aspects of the system still locked who have not the least -- which obviously in this case security checks clearly something went wrong.
Well that's where that's where the real attention ought to be spent then he -- he passed.
Company security checks state security checks New Jersey has a specific law.
That -- security employees plus the federal checks.
Did anyone really take a look at this guy.
Everybody.
Especially on the right hand side of the political fence is talking about making government smaller.
Putting it.
Putting things in the hands of this capitalist society which has worked so well over the years arguably and is there is -- -- talk of privatizing airports security now.
While this certainly is chairman Mike the transportation.
Committee in the house has been talking about privatizing it for years but of course remember.
Pre 9/11.
The security system at the checkpoints was privatized.
The airport -- -- airlines ran the checkpoints so I mean there's there's a question I think we're gonna find a hybrid system.
In place somewhere in the coming years in which the federal government will still play a significant role but the private sector will step up.
-- San Francisco is a place like that right now president Peter.
That's right they have a number of both large and small airports where you do have private sector.
Operations running at checkpoints and they seem to be working just fine if not better.
Peter goals former secretary is -- station board thank you.
