Man charged with stealing from luggage at Dulles

A Warrenton man who used to work as a baggage screener has reportedly been arrested and charged in connection with the theft of electronics from luggage at Dulles International Airport.

According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police, Shawn M. Kusterbeck, 34, was arrested and charged with a felony count of grand larceny after authorities executed several search warrants at his Warrenton home Dec. 18.

An affidavit filed in Fauquier County Circuit Court shows that a detective from the MWAA Police Department requested and got permission to search Kusterbeck's home and three vehicles belonging to Kusterbeck and his wife.

The detective said he requested the warrants based on findings of an investigation conducted by members of his department and the Transportation Security Administration beginning in October.

The investigation stemmed from an “excessive amount of thefts being reported to both agencies regarding the theft of personnel [sic] property from individuals check luggage traveling through Dulles International Airport,” the detective said.

After the initial interviews, a special agent with the TSA obtained additional information about more TSA baggage screeners who were allegedly stealing electronics and prescription medications from passengers' luggage.

According to the detective, investigators interviewed Kusterbeck twice in October. He denied he was involved in any of the thefts.

As the investigation continued, however, the special agent learned that Kusterbeck had allegedly sold an ipod to another screener. The agent determined that the gadget was apparently stolen from a Swiss doctor's luggage and that Kusterbeck was on duty on the day of the theft.

When questioned about the incident, Kusterbeck said he bought the ipod and had the receipt at home.

“Mr. Kusterbeck then stated that he sold that Apple ipod because he needed the money because he was sick and out of work,” the detective wrote in the affidavit. “Mr. Kusterbeck then stated he has not sold anything else.”

On Dec. 12, authorities recovered a second ipod which Kusterbeck had allegedly sold to another TSA screener. Kusterbeck allegedly sold the item for $200 and told the person who bought it that the device originally belonged to his wife.

While executing the search warrant, authorities seized several items, including an ipod, a Wii gaming system and accessories, a wi-fi card and two digital cameras from Kusterbeck's residence.

A radar detector was also taken from a vehicle registered to Kusterbeck and his wife, while a GPS unit was taken from a vehicle registered solely to the suspect's wife. Nothing was confiscated from Kusterbeck's vehicle.

Since October, investigators have made an unspecified number of arrests and executed search warrants resulting in the recovery of approximately $200,000 in stolen property, according to authorities.

TSA spokesperson Lauren Gaches said Kusterbeck is no longer employed by the TSA but could not provide any specific reasons as to why that is the case.

The investigation is ongoing.

E-mail the reporter: abogdanovic@timespapers.com

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