Airport workers indicted

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

More than two dozen workers with access to sensitive areas at McCarran International Airport have been indicted on federal charges ranging from making false statements to use of fraudulent Social Security numbers on their security applications.

The indictments, returned Jan. 29 but unsealed Wednesday by the U.S. attorney's office came out of Operation Tarmac, an investigation involving multiple agencies designed to increase security at McCarran.

Those charged worked on the ramps, runways, aircraft, kitchens and as valets in customer parking lots. All of the jobs require a security clearance.

The investigation involved background checks on about 9,000 workers who have access to sensitive areas at the airport. Out of an initial group of 100 workers investigated further, 27 weren't authorized to work in the United States. All 27 people charged live in the Las Vegas area.

The charges were filed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Social Security Administration and the FBI.

Whether those indicted are illegal immigrants remains in question.

Natalie Collins, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney, said, "We don't know who these people are yet and that's the problem. All we know is that they used fraudulent identification or made false statements."

If convicted, the defendants could face one to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The INS could also order them deported.