A former Customs Border Protection (CBP) officer has pleaded guilty to stealing cash from arriving international airline passengers during the course of his official duties at Naples Airport (APF) in Florida.
The US Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida said the officer, William Joseph Timothy, aged 43, stole approximately $18,700 in cash from airline passengers during 17 thefts between mid-2023 and early-2024.
The incidents were uncovered by the CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility investigators.
One of the incidents studied found that Timothy was covertly stealing cash from passengers during border enforcement examinations and currency verifications, which he performed as part of his role.
In one instance, a passenger arriving from the Bahamas noticed he was missing $2,200 after handing a US customs officer a stack of cash at the Naples Airport in Florida during a routine border examination.
“Evidence collected during the investigation showed that Timothy was surreptitiously stealing cash from arriving international passengers during border enforcement examinations and currency verifications performed as part of his official duties as an assigned CBP Officer at Naples Airport,” the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a press statement
According to the DOJ, a sentencing date has not yet been set. However, Timothy faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.