A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, William Joseph Timothy, has pleaded guilty to stealing almost $19,000 from international passengers at Naples Airport in Southwest Florida. The 43-year-old officer admitted to taking the cash in 17 separate incidents that occurred between mid-2023 and early this year.
According to the Department of Justice, Timothy was found to have been surreptitiously stealing cash from arriving international passengers during border enforcement examinations and currency verifications conducted as part of his official duties. The stolen amount totaled $18,700.
As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, Timothy has agreed to pay full restitution to the affected passengers and has resigned from his position with immediate effect. He now faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, with a sentencing date yet to be scheduled.
The case has raised concerns about the integrity of CBP officers and the need for stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The CBP has been contacted for further comments on the matter.
