SAN FRANCISCO, July 31 (UPI) -- Baggage handlers at San Francisco International Airport became a target of investigation when a retired police officer's gun vanished from his checked luggage.
Three men have now pleaded no contest to embezzlement, The Oakland Tribune reported. Andrew Balamiento entered his plea Thursday and faces sentencing in September.
John Emil Victoria, 21, and Tauailapalapa Laulu, 27, had already pleaded no contest. Victoria received a 90-day sentence and Laulu 30 days.
The investigation began in September when a former police sergeant in San Francisco, flying Delta, reported the disappearance of a custom-made handgun, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Investigators set up a sting using three suitcases holding valuables and found a game system and computer missing from one bag and foreign money and a gold watch from another.
Steve Wagstaffe of the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office said stolen items were discovered in Balamiento's locker at work, while the gun was at Victoria's home and Laulu had the computer.
The three men worked for Servisair, which handles Delta's baggage.
