"Felon hired as Hawaiian airport screener"

Sunday, September 14, 2003

Felon hired as airport guard 
By Chris Loos
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald


A Big Island felon is among hundreds of airport security guards who have
lost their jobs after the federal government conducted in - depth background
checks.

Nico Melendez, spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration,
said the rush to hire employees in the aftermath of Sept. 11 meant the
government could only do a cursory background checks initially. The new
hires who passed got interim clearance pending a more detailed
investigation. 

As a result, 1,298 employees lost their jobs nationwide for "suitability
issues" as of May 31 of this year, Melendez said.

Seven of those worked at airports on the Big Island, said James Correa,
federal security director for Hilo and Kona airports.

One, Althea Jean Himan of Hilo, was sentenced in 1997 to two years in
federal prison for her role in a drug - smuggling operation.

According to court documents, Himan was indicted by a federal grand jury in
1996 on three counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crystal
methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.

In a plea bargain, Himan pleaded guilty in 1997 to "misprison of felony" for
failing to notify the authorities about an interstate drug trafficking
organization headed by Carlito Marcelino Velasco in 1991 and early 1992. In
exchange for her plea, federal prosecutors dismissed the other charges
against her.

Himan "had knowledge of this drug trafficking scheme," according to her plea
agreement, which she signed. "She failed to notify the authorities in
California or in Hawaii. In fact, she often helped conceal Velasco's cocaine
in her residence in Hawaii. These packages of cocaine which she helped
conceal had been mailed to Hawaii from Kern and Tulare Counties by Velasco's
associates."

Himan's husband, Christopher Hiram Himan, was sentenced to 61é2 years in
federal prison for his role in the drug ring.

Hawaii County Police Capt. Samuel Thomas said Himan was doing airport
security for a private company when she was arrested. As far as police could
determine, "she didn't utilize her job" to facilitate drug dealing. 

Thomas said Big Island police assisted in intercepting a parcel containing
cocaine that was mailed to the Himan home from Delano, Calif.

"Later we learned that California authorities had also done an investigation
on Carlito Velasco," Thomas said. A California task force came to Hawaii and
arrested Himan and her husband, Thomas said.

It was not Althea Himan's first brush with drug charges. In 1994, Himan was
indicted in state court on unrelated charges for allegedly promoting a
dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors dismissed
those charges on the condition that Himan forfeit four rifles and a shotgun,
according to documents filed in Circuit Court in Hilo.

Correa, a retired Big Island police chief, said he couldn't discuss details
of Himan's employment at TSA, including when she stopped working there.

TSA spokeswoman Jennifer Marty said the background investigations for
airport security are done from a central location rather than by local
airport security directors. "You cannot have a felony conviction for sure,"
she added.

Melendez said the background checks start with a questionnaire and an FBI
fingerprint check. After the FBI screening, a private contractor makes
telephone calls to verify an employee's references. 

Then the Office of Personnel Management takes 45 - 70 days to conduct a
federal government background investigation, do a credit check, verify
employment history and talk to neighbors. "All four checks will be 100
percent completed by Oct. 1," Melendez said.

No one was able to explain why the FBI fingerprint check didn't reveal
Himan's record. Marty did note, however, that the FBI had to do 53,000
fingerprint checks during the push to replace private airport security
officers with federal workers.

Himan previously worked airport security for Wackenhut of Hawaii. The
Tribune - Herald could not confirm reports that she returned to Wackenhut
after leaving the TSA. 

"She was working here at one time for Wackenhut Security," said Robert
Kualii, the Wackenhut supervisor at Hilo airport. "I can't tell you why she
left and I can't tell you when."

Martin Hudon, Wackenhut's island branch manager, said he can't release any
information about Himan's employment without her written permission.

Efforts to reach Himan for comment were unsuccessful.


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