Getting Its Man

The FBI solves a ticklish case

A talent for installing electronic bugs during court-approved break-ins made Special Agent H. Edward Tickel the FBI'S top surreptitious entry expert. The 14-year veteran planted eavesdropping devices in the bureau's most famous cases, including the "Brilab" sting operation that led to the 1981 conspiracy conviction of Carlos Marcello, the reputed king of organized crime in New Orleans. But last week Tickel, 42, was fired by the FBI after being indicted by federal grand juries in Washington, D.C., and Alexandria, Va., for a variety of crimes that took place between 1977 and 1980. Tickel pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including income tax evasion, theft, breaking into the credit union at FBI headquarters with intent to steal, and selling $37,000 worth of hot jewelry.

Though Tickel has been under investigation since 1977, he was assigned to sensitive and classified bureau cases until his transfer last summer to the FBI's training school in Quantico, Va., as an instructor. FBI officials refuse to discuss the case or the seemingly belated reassignment of Tickel. Says one: "The director fired him. That's all we can say."

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