A former supervisor with the Transportation Security Administration has been sentenced to more than two years in prison after pleading guilty to taking bribes from a TSA officer who was stealing from passengers.
Michael Arato, 42, of Ewing, N.J., pleaded guilty to taking kickbacks from former TSA officer Al Raimi, 29, of Woodbridge, N.J.
According to prosecutors, Raimi stole between $10,000 and $30,000 in cash from travelers going through a Terminal B checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport last Fall.
Video surveillance showed Arato taking approximately $3,100 in bribes from Raimi, who also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
In addition to the 30 months in a federal prison, Arato was ordered by U.S. District Judge Jose Linares to reimburse victims $24,150 while forfeiting the $3,100 in kickback money to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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