TSA Screener at Newark Accused of Jewelry Store Robbery

STROUD TOWNSHIP

A federal airport screener accused of stealing $100,000 worth of jewelry in an armed robbery near Stroudsburg last week has turned himself into police.

Stroud Area Regional Police said Daniel Pacheco, 29, of Bushkill, Pike County, surrendered to police Monday evening at their headquarters, joined by his attorney and some family members. He has returned all of the stolen jewelry, police said.

According to police, Pacheco robbed the Diamond Outlet in Stroud Township on Thursday evening just as the store was closing. He held the workers at gunpoint, forced them to open a safe, then tied them up with tape. The two workers pleaded for their lives at one point, and later watched as Pacheco, realizing the police had arrived, put the gun to his own head.

Pacheco then called a woman and told her "I did this for us." Police said he asked if there was a back door. Told that there was, he used it to escape with a sack of jewelry. One of the store owners later identified Pacheco from a photo lineup, police said.

Pacheco worked for the Transportation Security Administration at Newark Liberty International Airport. A TSA spokesman said last week that he had been suspended indefinitely without pay.

Pacheco is charged with robbery, aggravated assault, theft, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment. Police said he was arraigned Monday before District Judge Thomas Olsen of Pocono Township, who set bail at $100,000. It was unclear whether Pacheco was able to post bail.

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