A veteran Port Authority executive was arrested on corruption charges Thursday for accepting a free trip to Miami from a vendor with whom the agency does business, authorities announced.
Sean Porter, 49, who was paid $133,484 in 2014 as an operations manager at JFK Airport, was arrested by the agency’s office of inspector general and charged with illegally accepting payment valued at $3,000 from a cargo handling company.
“The defendant allegedly violated his position of public trust and used his position for personal gain. In this case, the defendant chose to enrich himself and tarnish the reputation of the agency by allegedly accepting free travel, meals and other things of value from a company that does business with the agency,” said Michael Nestor, the PA’s inspector general.
The remuneration Porter received included plane tickets, hotel accommodations, dining and golf frees, according to the New York State Attorney General’s office, which is prosecuting the case.
Prior to the trip, Porter is also alleged to have assisted the company in obtaining special license plates to allow the firm’s vehicles to operate in restricted airport areas.
Additionally, Porter, of Huntington Station, LI, failed to report that he had received gifts from the same donor in excess of $1,000 on his 2013-2014 Financial Disclosure Statement, according to the State Attorney General’s office.