News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
October 11, 2007
TSA baggage screener is sentenced for making a false statement on a security questionnaire
A federal judge today sentenced John Riccio, 63, of North Kingstown, to three months imprisonment for making a false statement on a security questionnaire that he submitted as part of his employment as baggage screener at T.F. Green Airport. Riccio failed to disclose prior employment with Wal-mart, from which he had collected disability payments.
United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente announced the sentence, which Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ernest C. Torres imposed in U.S. District Court, Providence. Judge Torres also placed Riccio on probation for two years after his release.
In May, a jury found Riccio guilty of making a false statement to a federal official. At the trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee presented evidence that Riccio began working as a baggage screener for the Transportation Security Administration at Green Airport in July 2004. In February of that year, he had filed an injury report with Wal-mart, claiming he had been injured on the job at the Wal-mart store in Warwick. He claimed total disability, and Wal-mart began paying him disability compensation.
After an initial background check in 2004, TSA asked Riccio in 2006 to complete a federal security questionnaire known as an SF-86. The evidence showed that Riccio deliberately concealed his Wal-mart employment when completing the questionnaire. Subsequently, when TSA investigators questioned Riccio, he claimed the information on his security questionnaire was accurate, and denied ever having received disability payments from previous employment.
TSA suspended Riccio from his job pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Agents from the TSA Office of Internal Affairs and Office of Inspection investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chafee prosecuted it.
Contact: 401-709-5032 Thomas.connell@usdoj.gov