Thieves Discover JFK Airport Workers Beat Them To The
Crime
This,
frankly, is the kind of story we just couldn't make up. Three
baggage handlers for American Airlines face criminal charges, after
they allegedly hatched a plan to steal a suitcase laden with
expensive jewelry last month at San Francisco International.
Adding to the trio's woes is the fact their counterparts across
the country, at New York's Kennedy International Airport, seemingly
beat them to the punch.
It all started August 25, when baggage handler Angelo Riviello
noticed a suitcase he was loading onto American Airlines Flight 201
to Los Angeles was particularly heavy. Officials say the man told
his co-workers, "I think I have a good find."
According to court documents, Riviello called over his
supervisor, Albert Acevedo... who proceeded to open the bag, and
started removing envelopes filled with expensive jewelry and other
valuables.
"I made a good find today!" Acevedo allegedly told his
coworkers, reports The North County Gazette. "These rings add up to
$1,000."
That proved to be an extremely lowball figure. Between the two
of them, Acevedo and Riviello pilfered approximately $280,000 in
diamonds and gold from the suitcase, owned by Manhattan jeweler
David Diamond.
Both men were arrested August 29, charged with second-degree
grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen
property. They're due to appear in court on September 30, and face
as many as 15 years in prison.
But the story doesn't end there.
The New York Daily News reports three workers with Air Serv,
contracted to handle American Airlines bags at SFO, also took note
of the noticeably lighter -- but still heavy -- suitcase when they
came across it, and decided to steal it for themselves.
May Frances Escario, 22, Sula Fafotu, 24, and Roberto Lopez, 27
allegedly hatched a plan for one of them to pose as Diamond, so
they could claim the bag before the real Diamond could. The ruse
worked... and they were able to make off with the remaining
loot.
Alas, the crooks apparently weren't all-that bright. 33-year-old
Nestor Reyes, the boyfriend of one of the SFO perps, was arrested
the next morning as he wheeled the bag out of his apartment, still
loaded with over $200,000 in valuables.
Authorities rounded up the gang of three last Thursday (it
took that long??? -- Ed.) on charges of
thievery, and attempting to pawn off the ill-begotten goods.
And to think, we try to avoid putting our laptop computers in
checked luggage.
After this story, it seems if you have any valuables that must
travel via airlines... you may be safer sending those baubles via
UPS or FedEx. Or carrier pigeon.
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