MIAMI – Two Port Miami employees were arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing multiple pieces of artwork from one of the terminals, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office announced.
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According to their arrest reports, Tangela Denise Parks, 50, of Miami, and Angel Junior Prudhomme, 27, also of Miami, were arrested on charges of grand theft and criminal mischief.
Deputies said they are both custodial workers at the port.
According to their arrest reports, port authorities notified MDSO detectives assigned to Port Miami about a possible theft that occurred inside a terminal.
“MDSO detectives met with port authorities and reviewed surveillance video, which depicted Port of Miami workers removing artwork from a terminal, loading it in their personal vehicles, and exiting the port,” an MDSO news release issued Thursday stated.
According to the suspects’ arrest reports, the thefts occurred May 12 and were reported via the public corruption tip line on May 23.
Deputies said detectives reviewed surveillance video this week which showed Prudhomme on May 12 removing artwork from the walls in Terminal G and concealing them in a stairwell.
Deputies said he then concealed the mosaic/marble pieces in trash cans and trash bags while trying to evade security cameras.
According to the reports, surveillance video shows that on the next day, he placed the artwork in Parks’ vehicle.
Deputies said 12 of the 24 art pieces were damaged due to their improper removal and transportation.
The damaged items were left behind at the port and were recovered by the sea port General Investigations Unit.
According to the reports, the remaining pieces were recovered Wednesday at Prudhomme’s home.
Authorities said the art pieces were last appraised at $50,000.
According to his arrest report, Prudhomme confessed to stealing the artwork and taking it home. Deputies said Parks also admitted to her involvement in the theft and confessed to “removing additional property from the Port of Miami.”
“As Sheriff of Miami-Dade County, I take individuals using their employment to steal very seriously. I am committed to ensuring that anyone involved in dishonest actions will be held accountable” Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said Thursday in a statement.
As of Thursday morning, Prudhomme and Parks were both being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Online jail records listed their bonds as “to be set.”