TSA officer pleads to $30k theft — with boss’s OK

A former Transportation Security Administration screener at Newark Liberty International Airport admitted to stealing up to $30,000 in cash from travelers, federal prosecutors said.

Al Raimi, 29, of Woodridge, pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of theft by a government officer. Raimi worked as a lead officer at a security checkpoint at the airport. Between October 2009 until Sept. 8 2010, Raimi said he stole the cash from airline passengers. Raimi then "kicked up" some of that money to his immediate supervisor, Michael Arato. "In exchange, Arato allowed Raimi to continue stealing," said Asst. U.S. Attorney Erick Kanefsky in a statement.

Raimi's thefts were captured by surveillance cameras, according to court documents. In one, Raimi is seen stealing $5,000 in cash from a passenger's purse while he conducted a secondary screening of her baggage.

Arato pleaded guilty earlier this month to accepting bribes and kickbacks in the scheme. He also confessed that he regularly stole from passengers at the checkpoint, Kanefsky said.

Raimi, who faces up to 10 years in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced June 6. Arato will be sentenced May 24.