The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office stated Wednesday that two Port Miami employees had been detained for allegedly stealing multiple pieces of artwork from one of the terminals.
Tangela Denise Parks, 50, of Miami, and Angel Junior Prudhomme, 27, of Miami, were both charged with grand theft and criminal mischief, according to arrest papers.
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Deputies stated that they are both custodial workers at the port.
“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 their arrest reports, port authorities contacted MDSO detectives assigned to Port Miami about a probable theft that took place inside the terminal.
According to the defendants’ arrest papers, the thefts happened on May 12 and were reported to the public corruption tip line on May 23.
Deputies said detectives analyzed security video this week that showed Prudhomme taking artwork off the walls of Terminal G on May 12 and concealing it in a staircase.
Deputies say he then hid the mosaic/marble pieces in trash cans and trash bags to avoid security cameras.
According to accounts, surveillance footage shows him placing the artwork in Parks’ vehicle the following day.
Deputies reported that improper removal and transportation caused damage to 12 of the 24 art items.
The damaged commodities were abandoned at the port and collected by the seaport General Investigations Unit.
According to accounts, the remaining pieces were discovered Wednesday at Prudhomme’s residence.
According to authorities, the art pieces were most recently evaluated at $50,000.
According to the arrest report, Prudhomme admitted to stealing the artwork and bringing it home. According to deputies, Parks admitted to her role 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.
Prudhomme and Parks were still being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Thursday morning. According to online jail records, their bail is still “to be set.”
