A viral stunt during the Knicks’ championship parade that cost a JPMorgan Chase executive her job has now led to city penalties, after New York sanitation officials recovered a Knicks-themed trash can she was accused of removing from a Manhattan street.
Angie Báez returned the commemorative litter basket on Wednesday morning, the New York City Department of Sanitation said. The return came nearly a week after video appeared to show her emptying trash from the container onto a sidewalk and then walking off with it during the New York Knicks’ championship celebration.
The Department of Sanitation said its Sanitation Police issued Báez two summonses tied to the episode: a $75 fine for littering and a $100 fine for obstructing department operations.
Thousands of fans packed Broadway in Lower Manhattan for the New York Knicks’ championship ticker-tape parade and victory rally on June 18, 2026, celebrating the team’s NBA Finals win. The Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games to capture their first NBA title in 53 years. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
“These fines are the maximum allowed by law for first offenses,” a department spokesperson said.
Footage of the incident circulated rapidly on social media after the June 18 parade, which brought hundreds of thousands of fans to Lower Manhattan to celebrate the Knicks’ first championship in more than five decades.
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Báez was later identified by the New York Post as a JPMorgan Chase executive. Her LinkedIn profile listed her as executive director of community and industry engagement for Card and Connected Commerce. Her background also included diversity, equity and inclusion leadership roles, including at The Infatuation, which Chase acquired in 2021.
The entrance to JPMorgan Chase’s international headquarters on Park Avenue is seen in New York on Oct. 2, 2012. (REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)
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Following the incident, JPMorgan Chase confirmed that Báez was no longer employed by the company.
News Agency contacted JPMorgan Chase on Wednesday seeking additional comment about her departure.
“This employee is no longer with the company,” a spokesperson said, reiterating the company’s previous statement.
The company declined to provide additional details.
Despite the public attention surrounding the incident, the New York Police Department indicated it has no complaint report on file.
Police officers prepare to disperse the crowd after the New York Knicks’ win against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Bryant Park in New York City, U.S., June 13, 2026. (REUTERS/Christian Monterrosa)
“There is no complaint report on file with the information provided in your inquiry,” an NYPD spokesperson told News Agency.
The Department of Sanitation said it does not have an estimate for the cleanup costs associated with the trash dumped from the basket, but noted the amount was insignificant compared to the overall cleanup effort following the parade.
“We do not have a cost estimate, but note that 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.
The agency also appeared to have some fun with the situation 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 said, adding that fans interested in a Knicks-themed basket can purchase smaller versions online.
