Knicks fan who worked as DEI exec at JPMorgan Chase fired over bizarre trash can theft

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A Knicks fan's bizarre quest for a souvenir appears to have come with a hefty price tag: her lucrative career.

Angie Báez, 40, who served as a director at JPMorgan Chase, was fired from her position on Tuesday, June 23, after a viral video showed her emptying a public trash can on the street then stealing it during New York City’s Knicks championship parade.

Sources told NY Post that the bank investigated the matter after footage of the incident surfaced online, with a JPMorgan Chase spokesperson ultimately stating, "This employee is no longer with the company."

Video shows Báez stealing Knicks’ trash can

Angie Báez came under scrutiny after a video surfaced showing her decked out in an orange hat, blue New York Knicks Shirt, and jean shorts, dumping a mountain of trash out of a limited-edition blue-and-orange trash can onto a Manhattan sidewalk.

Moments later, she joins another person dressed in Knicks gear and marches off with the can in tow, as a crowd of horrified spectators watches the bizarre scene unfold.

Theft of property valued under $1,000 is generally charged as petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor under New York City law. Consequences generally include a fine, a summons, or community service for first-time offenders. The littering could bring additional penalties.

“Dumping trash onto the street and stealing public property for your own personal use are both illegal, antisocial behaviors, and not what New Yorkers do. On top of all that, doing both on camera is incredibly stupid,” the New York City Department of Sanitation told the New York Post.

On June 20, the NYPD said that they had not received any complaints related to the incident involving Báez. She has not been charged with a crime.

Who is Angie Báez

Báez’s LinkedIn profile indicates that she was promoted to Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce at JPMorgan Chase more than a year ago.

Before joining JPMorgan Chase, she served as Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Infatuation, the New York-based restaurant review platform later acquired by the banking giant as part of its lifestyle-content expansion strategy.

The Infatuation website describes Báez as someone whose “dedication to making a positive impact shines through in every aspect of her work.”

“Angie’s efforts have helped position [The Infatuation] as a trailblazer in the pursuit of a more equitable and relatable food media industry,” calling her one of the “brightest voices” in the space.

“As a vibrant mosaic of Dominican heritage, Bronx roots, and a passion for storytelling, creativity, and culture, Angie continues to lead the way towards a more inclusive and equitable future for food media, leaving an indelible mark on The Infatuation and everything she touches,” it adds.

Baez also appears to have co-founded a queer and Black, Indigenous and People of Color-owned talent agency, Same Page Co. which is “focused on increasing representation and equity in media and industry. It works with artists/talent on creative projects, photoshoots, strategy, and business affairs.”