Illegal immigrant worked as airport security supervisor for 20 years with false ID

[pwaldo]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...years-ago.html

Authorities say a longtime security supervisor at a New Jersey airport has been arrested on a charge he was using the identity of a New York City man who was murdered 20 years ago.

Illegal immigrant Bimbo Olumuyiwa Oyewole, 54, of Nigeria, was arrested on Monday at his home in Elizabeth.

His co-workers knew him as Jerry Thomas, a man who was murdered in New York City in 1992, the same year Oyewole allegedly assumed his name when he started working at the airport.

It wasn't immediately clear how Thomas' personal information was acquired.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says Oyewole had worked at Newark Liberty International Airport for about 20 years and had passed background checks.

Oyewole allegedly had all the documents he needed, including a birth certificate and a social security card.

He had worked under several contractors at the airport, most recently FJC Security Services.

A message left Monday on Oyewole's home phone was not immediately returned, and the Port Authority said it wasn't sure if he had retained an attorney.

NorthJersey.com reported that the suspect supervised over 30 security guards and was allowed access to secure areas.

Authorities told the website that it appears he was using the bogus identity so that he could stay in the U.S.

While it doesn't appear that the arrest is terrorism-related, the arrest exposes a disastrous lapse in airport security.

Nigeria is also the origin of the underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who was convicted of trying to blow up a U.S.-bound jet on Christmas Day 2009.

An investigation by the Port Authority Inspector General's office was reportedly sparked by an anonymous tip about Oyewole.

Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman told NorthJersey.com: 'The IG's office is looking into how he obtained the documents to maintain another person's identity.'

He was due in court later Monday to face charges including identity theft.

[duane1969]

So the real Jerry Thomas was murdered 20 years ago and this guy has been in the country for 20 years using Jerry West's identity to hide from INS/ICE? I don't need to watch any Law & Order re-runs to figure this one out.

[angel0430]

And that is one of the theories they are investigating.