Sources Say That a CBP Officer Pleaded Guilty to Taking $18,000 From Flight Passengers While They Were Being Inspected

Officials say that a Customs and Border Protection officer admitted to stealing more than $18,000 from people landing on international flights by swiping the cash while checking the currency at a Florida airport.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, 43-year-old William Timothy pleaded guilty on Tuesday and agreed to quit his job at the border patrol right away as part of a plea deal.

Between the middle of last year and the beginning of this year, Timothy stole about $18,700 from 18 people at Naples Airport.

As part of the plea deal, Timothy is accused of stealing $2,200 while counting cash while checking out a person coming from the Bahamas on May 24, 2023.

In the plea deal, there are 17 cases and 18 passengers named. The paper says that Timothy will have to pay back what he owes as part of the deal.

A lawyer who was supposed to be representing Timothy did not reply right away to a request for comment Tuesday.

Wednesday, he admitted to one count of an officer or employee of the United States converting property of another in U.S. District Court in Fort Myers. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in jail under the law.

A plea deal that was made last month doesn’t set a sentence range, but prosecutors agreed to suggest some lighter sentences if certain conditions are met.

It wasn’t set for Tuesday when the sentence would be given.