Police release photos of 3 McCarran technicians accused of theft

By Paul Takahashi

Friday, April 1, 2011 | 12:54 p.m.

Metro Police today released photos of three IT technicians arrested Thursday at McCarran International Airport on charges of ordering $2,800 worth of equipment for personal use.

Joseph Cordova, 34; Chad Norton, 34; and Matthew Charniga, 39, were charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, comprehensive theft and conspiracy to commit comprehensive theft. They were booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

The three men, all Las Vegas residents, worked as technicians in McCarran’s IT Division. According to the arrest report, the men allegedly bought equipment – universal remotes, an air compressor motor, an audio mix deck and a wireless camera – using airport purchase orders.

Police were alerted to the thefts in October after an airport official became concerned about the purchase of a $172 air compressor motor, according to the arrest report. Investigators determined the motor didn’t match the air compressor models McCarran used, and began looking over years of purchase orders.

Over the course of the investigation, officials learned that other equipment purchased between March 8 and May 19 of last year didn’t match the systems being used at McCarran and Henderson Executive Airport.

Authorities said Cordova told police he programmed a universal remote for the TV at his home and Charniga told police he installed a video surveillance system at his home with equipment bought through McCarran.

McCarran spokeswoman Elaine Sanchez called the thefts “incidents of misconduct” in a prepared statement.

“To date, two employees have been terminated and airport management will continue its administrative course until these matters are resolved,” she said in a statement.