Cape Cod harbor master charged with being fake fed

BOSTON -- A part-time assistant harbor master on Cape Cod has been charged by federal authorities with pretending to be an armed federal agent so he could bypass airport security.

Stephen Grant, 48, of Rockland was freed on $50,000 unsecured bond following his initial appearance Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Boston.

Grant was flying from Boston to San Diego on Jan. 1, 2007, when he approached an American Airlines ticket counter at Logan International Airport and flashed a badge he carries as a part-time assistant harbor master in Chatham, according to federal prosecutors.

Grant, a medical supplies salesman, also filled out a "flying while armed" form and wrote that he worked for the Department of Homeland Security, prosecutors said. He did not bring a gun on the plane.

He allegedly did the same on his return trip to Boston three days later.

But this time, according to court documents, he was invited into the cockpit, was told the identity of the two air marshals on the flight, and was informed who else on the plane was armed.

Grant denies lying. He told WHDH-TV that he volunteered for a Coast Guard subcommittee, which is a division of Homeland Security.

"I didn't mislead and that's why I've been very open and upfront with everybody," Grant said.

Grant is charged with impersonating a federal agent and making false statements. If convicted, he faces a maximum of three years in prison on the impersonation charge, and a maximum of five years behind bars for making false statements.

The case took almost two years to come to light so federal authorities could tighten airport security and prevent similar incidents, said Christina DiIorio-Sterling, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office.

"The flying public can be assured that this has led to a change of procedures to ensure that credentials are properly vetted," said Ann Davis, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration.

Grant is due back in court Dec. 12.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)