5 Arrested In Alleged Plot To Steal Foreign Currency From Mail At JFK Airport
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Five former cargo handlers are facing charges after allegedly plotting to steal international mail at John F. Kennedy Airport.
Rickash Gobin, 41, of Queens, Fitzroy Ragbeer, 58, of Inwood, Franklin Beresford, 26, of Brooklyn, Pedro Lopez, Jr., 34, of Brooklyn and Nick Sadler, 35, of Rockaway Park, were arrested on Wednesday, according to officials.
According to the complaint, the cargo handlers plotted to steal mail coming in from flights through Terminal One at JFK, which houses Austrian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Air France, LOT Polish Airlines and other international carriers. The plot, which spanned over a period of four years, allegedly targeted packages that contained international currency.
Once the packages were obtained, the cargo workers would then allegedly exchange the international currency for American money -- either at JFK airport or at an outside bank, according to the complaint.
Gobin, a former manager for the Aircraft Service International group where the suspects were formally employed, is also accused of allegedly directing co-conspirators to flights where he knew targeted packages would be transported, in exchange for kickbacks.
The five suspects are scheduled to appear in court in Brooklyn on Wednesday.
