TSA agent arrested, charged with faking cancer for 5 years

ATLANTA — Federal agents arrested a local TSA agent accused of faking cancer for five years to get out of work.
 
Since 2009 investigators say security Officer Marc Bess told his bosses at the Transportation Security Administration that he was very sick with cancer, abdominal lymphoma in fact. 
 
Investigators say he forged notes from a physician detailing radiation, surgery and ongoing treatment that he needed to undergo.
 
The trouble is investigators say it was all made up.
 
"It is unethical and it is wrong and what about all the people that do have cancer," said passenger Shelley Hoisington, "I think he should pay back all the time he got for being sick."
 
According to a criminal information document filed by the U.S Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Bess wrote fake doctors notes and the TSA caught on after discovering the doctor who he signed off as was dead.
 
"I'm glad he got caught and I hope they throw the book at him," said Joe Ellwood, a passenger.
 
Court records show that investigators believe he took 2,240 hours in sick leave. That's about 280 sick days if you work an eight-hour work day over a five year time period.
 
"A lot of employers don't even offer paid time off for one, and a lot of people get sick and they lose they jobs, and you have a person abusing the system," said Myia Wood, a disability attorney, based in Atlanta.
 
Court records show that the majority of the paid leave time was transferred to Bess by other employees as part of a "Voluntary Leave Transfer Program" that the TSA offers.
 
"TSA policy is to question any uncertain medical documents. TSA initiated this investigation. The individual is no longer employed by the federal government," said a TSA spokeswoman in a statement.
 
Bess is expected in court for a plea hearing on May 11 to face embezzling/stealing public money charges.
 
The U.S Attorney's Office is not commenting further on the case. Bess did not return a voice message left on his cellphone. He is out on bond.

WSBTV