This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@juno.com. Logan Workers Accused of Lying on Applications February 28, 2002 By PAM BELLUCK BOSTON, Feb. 27 - Federal officials charged 20 people at Logan International Airport here today with giving false information to get jobs or security badges. Those arrested were all immigrants, from Latin America, Haiti, Morocco or Tanzania and were accused of lying on their applications or presenting fake Social Security numbers or immigration documents, Michael J. Sullivan, the United States attorney here, said. All were current or former employees of private contractors that provided services like security screening, cleaning or fueling airplanes. Fifteen were in the country illegally. Mr. Sullivan said none of those arrested were "suspected or charged with having any terrorist connections." "There is no evidence to indicate that any of the charged individuals sought to do anything other than obtain gainful employment," he said. The charges were the latest in a post-Sept. 11 crackdown on airport employees by the United States Department of Transportation, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Social Security Administration. In recent months, arrests have been made at airports in seven other cities: Atlanta; Las Vegas; Miami; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Washington; and Salt Lake City. "We need to know who is working in the secured areas of the airport and that all who are there are lawfully present," said Ned E. Schwartz, special agent in charge of the Department of Transportation's office of investigation. Security at Logan airport has received great scrutiny because the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center left from there. Mr. Sullivan said the investigation began nine days after the terrorist attacks and involved the review of applications of 3,500 of the 10,000 employees at the airport. The 3,500 were chosen because they had been "given access badges to secure areas of Logan," he said, adding that others might be screened later. Mr. Sullivan said federal officials were not holding the companies that hired the employees responsible because, at the time, they did not have the ability to verify Social Security numbers. Since Sept. 11, the immigration service has become involved in the screening of airport employees, making it possible to verify the information an applicant presents. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/28/national/28LOGA.html?ex=1015934738&ei=1&en=2287ae35ba987af9 HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@nytimes.com. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company