Executive loses JPMorgan job and faces fines after stealing commemorative Knicks trash can at parade
A JPMorgan Chase executive who went viral for taking a commemorative trash can during the New York Knicks championship parade has returned the stolen item and received two city fines after losing her job. Angie Báez brought back the Knicks-themed litter basket on Wednesday morning, nearly a week after video footage captured her dumping trash onto a Manhattan sidewalk and walking away with the container during the June 18 celebration. The New York City Department of Sanitation confirmed the return and issued summonses totaling $175 for the incident that drew widespread attention on social media.
The celebration drew hundreds of thousands of fans to Lower Manhattan to mark the team’s first NBA championship in more than five decades. The massive turnout resulted in significant cleanup operations, with sanitation crews collecting over 75,000 pounds of confetti and litter following the historic event.
Sanitation department issues maximum penalties allowed by law
Sanitation Police handed Báez two separate citations in connection with the theft. The first summons carries a $75 penalty for littering, while the second imposes a $100 fine for impeding Department of Sanitation operations. According to a department spokesperson, these fines represent the maximum amounts permitted by law for first-time offenses. The agency recovered the commemorative basket after Báez voluntarily returned it Wednesday morning, though the incident had already cost her employment.
The Department of Sanitation stated it does not have a cost estimate for cleaning up the trash dumped from the basket. Officials noted the amount was insignificant compared to the overall cleanup effort following the parade. “The trash you see in the video is a tiny amount in comparison to the 75,260 pounds of confetti and litter we collected Thursday and Friday,” the department said.
Former executive held diversity and engagement leadership roles
The New York Post identified Báez as an executive at JPMorgan Chase whose LinkedIn profile listed her as Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce. Her professional background included diversity, equity and inclusion leadership positions. She previously held similar roles at The Infatuation, a restaurant review platform that JPMorgan Chase acquired in 2021. Following the viral incident, the financial institution confirmed Báez was no longer employed by the company.
A JPMorgan Chase spokesperson reiterated the company’s position when contacted for additional comment on Wednesday. “This employee is no longer with the company,” the representative said. The firm declined to provide further details about her departure or the circumstances surrounding the termination decision.
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Police department has no complaint report on file for incident
Despite the widespread public attention surrounding the case, the New York Police Department indicated it has no official complaint report on file. An NYPD spokesperson told reporters there is no complaint report with the information related to the incident. The lack of a formal police complaint means Báez faces only administrative penalties from the sanitation department rather than criminal charges. The incident was documented primarily through social media videos that spread rapidly across multiple platforms after the parade.
- Báez received a $75 fine for littering on a public sidewalk
- She received a $100 fine for impeding sanitation operations
- The commemorative trash can was returned Wednesday morning
- JPMorgan Chase confirmed her employment termination
- No criminal complaint was filed with the NYPD
City maintains thousands of litter baskets across five boroughs
The Department of Sanitation addressed the incident with a touch of humor in a social media post announcing the basket’s return. “We have 23,000 litter baskets on the street citywide, and you never know where one of these may pop up,” the department stated. The agency also informed fans interested in Knicks-themed baskets that smaller versions are available for purchase online through authorized retailers.
The commemorative trash cans were placed throughout Manhattan specifically for the championship parade. City officials deployed thousands of officers and sanitation workers to manage the massive crowds. Some fans climbed on police cars and sanitation trucks during the celebration, while countless others were unable to access the jam-packed parade route due to capacity concerns.
Viral video spreads rapidly across social media platforms
Video footage of the incident circulated widely on social media immediately following the June 18 parade. The clip showed Báez emptying the contents of the Knicks-themed litter basket onto the sidewalk before taking the container. The NYPD had deployed 10,000 officers for the historic championship parade, but the trash can incident was captured by bystanders rather than official security personnel. The video prompted swift identification of Báez and led to her termination from JPMorgan Chase before she returned the stolen item.
The incident serves as a reminder of the consequences of impulsive actions during public celebrations. The combination of job loss, public embarrassment, and city fines totaling $175 resulted from a decision to take city property during what should have been a joyful celebration. The Department of Sanitation continues to maintain thousands of litter baskets throughout the five boroughs as part of its ongoing efforts to keep New York City streets clean.
