Baggage handlers arrested for theft at MSY airport

quote:

---

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office has arrested three baggage handlers in connection with a string of thefts from checked baggage.

The three people all worked for a subsidiary of American Airlines called Envoy Air. They're a private company that handles all of the baggage at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and some other airports.

---

quote:

---

Mackie Shilstone may have been one of their victims.

"I'm kind of an OCD freak. Everything about me is attention to detail. I get off the plane, my handle is broken and all my latches are open," Shilstone said.

Shilstone in July was headed to a tennis tournament in San Francisco with his client Serena Williams.

When he got there, he was greeted with a damaged bag and a missing computer that he had brought for his son. He carried on his personal computer.

Shilstone reported it to the TSA and American Airlines. The TSA sent him a letter saying they reviewed surveillance footage, and while his checked bag was searched at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the computer was placed back into it.

Shilstone never received a ticket showing that though.

At that point, baggage handlers who work for an American Airlines subsidiary take over, putting the bag on the plane.

Shilstone contacted them, but they told him computers and electronics aren't covered by the airline when they're in checked baggage.

"'We're not responsible. So, here's a $200 credit for flying on our airline,'" Shilstone said. "Like I really want to fly on your airline again? And that's kind of it. Bye."

---

quote:

---

Jefferson Parish investigators found 22-yer-old Neishal Santana by tracking a Mac computer to a local pawn shop. It is unclear at this point whether it was Shilstone's.

When they arrested her at the airport Thursday, detectives found in her car two iPads, two laptops, a Go Pro camera and a Kindle that was reported stolen earlier this year.

Romalice Honeycutt and Neishal Santana were also arrested in connection with the case.

James faces two counts of theft of a firearm, Honeycutt faces a principal to theft of a firearm charge and Santana faces one count of theft and possession of stolen property.

---