Anti Federalist
04-27-2012, 01:10 PM
TSA screeners charged in drug smuggling scheme at Los Angeles airport
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/tsa-screeners-charged-drug-smuggling-scheme-los-angeles-airport-article-1.1067966#ixzz1tGnSmrrp
Thursday, April 26, 2012, 1:28 PM
Four TSA screeners schemed with drug traffickers to smuggle loads of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana through Los Angeles International airport last year in exchange for cash payments, federal investigators said.
The case against the screeners — including two who still work for the Transportation Security Administration — was detailed in a 40-page grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
Feds brought down the crew after a series of undercover stings sparked by the arrest of a suspected drug mule, who botched an attempt to sneak 10 pounds of coke through a checkpoint in February 2011.
TSA screener Joy White, 27, told Duane Eleby to bring the cocaine through her X-ray machine at LAX’s Terminal 6, but he instead went to Terminal 5, where another screener saw the drugs in his suit case, according to the indictment.
The smuggling operation continued for another six months — and in five cases, federal informants posed as the smugglers.
In one case, in June, accused screener John Whitfield, 23, told one smuggler to move out of line so that he would come through his X-ray machine, according to the court documents. Whitfield then allegedly allowed him to pass through with eight pounds of methamphetamine in his bag.
Whitfield later met the man in the bathroom and was paid $600, the indictment said.
In another incident, Capeline McKinney, 25, opened up a new security lane to a smuggler carrying 44 pounds of cocaine to pass through, according to The Los Angeles Times.
None of the drugs ever left the airport, the feds said.
“The allegations in this case describe a significant breakdown of the screening system through the conduct of individuals who placed greed above the nation’s security needs,” U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. said in a statement.
White, Whitfield and McKinney, along with alleged ringleader Naral Richardson, 30, were charged with 22 counts of bribery and trafficking.
Whitfield and McKinney still work for the TSA but have been suspended.
McKinney appeared in court Wednesday wearing her TSA uniform, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Richardson was fired in 2010, while White was canned last year for unrelated reasons.
Three suspected couriers were also charged in the scheme.
If convicted, the crew faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/tsa-screeners-charged-drug-smuggling-scheme-los-angeles-airport-article-1.1067966#ixzz1tGnSmrrp
Thursday, April 26, 2012, 1:28 PM
Four TSA screeners schemed with drug traffickers to smuggle loads of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana through Los Angeles International airport last year in exchange for cash payments, federal investigators said.
The case against the screeners — including two who still work for the Transportation Security Administration — was detailed in a 40-page grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
Feds brought down the crew after a series of undercover stings sparked by the arrest of a suspected drug mule, who botched an attempt to sneak 10 pounds of coke through a checkpoint in February 2011.
TSA screener Joy White, 27, told Duane Eleby to bring the cocaine through her X-ray machine at LAX’s Terminal 6, but he instead went to Terminal 5, where another screener saw the drugs in his suit case, according to the indictment.
The smuggling operation continued for another six months — and in five cases, federal informants posed as the smugglers.
In one case, in June, accused screener John Whitfield, 23, told one smuggler to move out of line so that he would come through his X-ray machine, according to the court documents. Whitfield then allegedly allowed him to pass through with eight pounds of methamphetamine in his bag.
Whitfield later met the man in the bathroom and was paid $600, the indictment said.
In another incident, Capeline McKinney, 25, opened up a new security lane to a smuggler carrying 44 pounds of cocaine to pass through, according to The Los Angeles Times.
None of the drugs ever left the airport, the feds said.
“The allegations in this case describe a significant breakdown of the screening system through the conduct of individuals who placed greed above the nation’s security needs,” U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. said in a statement.
White, Whitfield and McKinney, along with alleged ringleader Naral Richardson, 30, were charged with 22 counts of bribery and trafficking.
Whitfield and McKinney still work for the TSA but have been suspended.
McKinney appeared in court Wednesday wearing her TSA uniform, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Richardson was fired in 2010, while White was canned last year for unrelated reasons.
Three suspected couriers were also charged in the scheme.
If convicted, the crew faces a minimum of 10 years in prison.