Ex-TSA Agent Pleads Guilty In LAX Pot Smuggling Case
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An ex-Transportation Security Administration agent pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal conspiracy charge of smuggling marijuana onto flights out of Los Angeles International Airport.
Dianna Perez, 28, of Inglewood, faces up to five years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Perez acknowledged working with ex-TSA agent Millage Peaks IV, who is also the son of a former Los Angeles fire chief, according to court papers.
She admitted she helped her co-defendants smuggle the drugs on nine occasions between November 2010 and October 2011.
Andrew Welter, 25, and Charles "Smoke" Hicks, 24, pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy charges.
According to court papers, Peaks told the defendants he would pay $500 for every pot-filled suitcase that would go through airport security.
Peaks was arrested in October 2011 on charges of bribing a public official and has agreed to plead guilty.
Another ex-TSA agent and co-defendant, 29-year-old Randy Littlefield, has also agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
According to court papers, the marijuana was flown from Los Angeles to Boston.
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