3:54 AM
Three booth attendants
have been charged in connection with thefts at the parking garage of the
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum annex. The three attendants were
arrested by the FBI and Smithsonian security agents Saturday as their shifts
ended. The U.S Attorney's office said at least $400,000 had been stolen over
three years. Federal prosecutors said closed circuit television cameras showed
parking attendants repeatedly unplugging electronic vehicle counters, which
allowed as much as $4,000 to be stolen in a day. One parking attendant is seen
stuffing wads of cash into a duffel bag, officials said.
The parking garage at
the Smithsonian annex, known as the Udvar-Hazy Center, charges drivers $15
daily, with most of the proceeds intended to go to the museum. The annex,
located near Dulles Airport, is home to the space shuttle Discovery and a large
display of other historic aircraft.
Those arrested were
Freweyni Mebrathu, 45, of Sterling, Virginia; Genete Yigzu, 46, of Alexandria,
Virginia; and Meseret Terefe, 36, of Silver Spring, Maryland. All three were
employees of Parking Management Inc. The U.S. Attorney's office said the three
are charged with embezzling and stealing federal monies belonging to the
Smithsonian. Each faces up to ten years in prison. Source ( CNN)
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