Jurors indict three ex-airport workers on theft charges

A Clark County grand jury Friday indicted three technicians who installed and repaired security cameras at McCarran International Airport on charges of stealing electronic equipment.

All three technicians, Matthew Charniga, 39, Joseph Cordova, 35, and their supervisor, Chad Norton, 34, have been fired as a result of the criminal investigation. The seven-count indictment includes felony charges of conspiracy, burglary and theft.

Charniga, a felon who pleaded guilty in 1994 to voluntary manslaughter in a shooting death, also faces a felony weapons possession charge.

An arraignment was set for June 13 in District Court. The defendants remained free on their own recognizance, but prosecutors are expected to file a motion to set bail in the case.

Airport officials had reported the defendants bought high-tech universal remotes and other electronic equipment for themselves using airport purchase orders.

The value of the equipment the three men are charged with stealing is about $2,800, but investigators suspect the thefts might have occurred for several years. Investigators also found evidence of tampering with a surveillance camera on the airport's grounds where the technicians worked. Some video was erased.

All three defendants worked at McCarran's Information Systems Division, which has about 80 employees who provide technical assistance to airport departments. Among their duties, the technicians worked on cameras in baggage claim and on those outside the airport.

The technicians did not have routine access to cameras in the airport's secure area or passenger checkpoints controlled by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, officials said.

Review-Journal reporter Francis McCabe contributed to this story. Contact Jeff German at jgerman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135.