Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Former Southwest Airlines Baggage Handler Sentenced To 21 Months In Prison For Violating Airport Security Requirements, Drug Smuggling, And Money Laundering
OAKLAND – Former Southwest Airlines baggage handler Kenneth Wayne Fleming, Jr. was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, conspiring to distribute marijuana, and conspiring to launder money, announced Acting United States Attorney Alex G. Tse, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Batdorf, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton, Chief U.S. District Judge.
Fleming, 35, of Oakland, pleaded guilty on October 25, 2017, to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, marijuana; one count of entering an airport area in violation of security requirements; and one count of conspiracy to launder money. In his plea agreement, Fleming admitted that in 2013 and 2014 he was a baggage handler for Southwest Airlines at the Oakland International Airport. He acknowledged he used his access as a baggage handler to smuggle marijuana into the airport and distributed that marijuana to outbound passengers in violation of airport security requirements. Specifically, Fleming admitted that on four occasions he delivered unscreened baggage to outbound passengers who already cleared the TSA security checkpoint. The baggage contained a total of 16 kilograms of marijuana. As part of his plea agreement, Fleming further admitted he abused a position of public and private trust. Specifically, Fleming admitted he used his access to the secured areas of the airport granted to him as an employee of Southwest Airlines to commit and conceal his crimes. Fleming also admitted that he conspired with others to launder $51,400 in drug trafficking proceeds through his bank account.
On September 25, 2017, Fleming was charged in a superseding information with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846; one count of entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, in violation of 49 U.S.C. §§ 46314(a) and 46314(b)(2); and one count of conspiracy to launder money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). Pursuant to this plea agreement, Fleming pleaded guilty to all the charges.
In addition to the prison term, Chief Judge Hamilton sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release. During this period of supervised release, Fleming will be barred from seeking or obtaining employment with any commercial air carrier or airport. The Court also ordered Fleming to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $51,400. Fleming will begin serving the sentence on April 2, 2018.
Fleming’s sentence brings to 10 the number of defendants sentenced as part of the scheme to violate airport security and distribute marijuana. The other nine defendants sentenced include the following:
|
Defendant |
Age, Residence |
Charges |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Michael Herb Videau |
30, of Oakland |
Distribution and possession with intent to distribute, marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) Entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, 49 U.S.C. §§ 46314(a) and 46314(b)(2) |
Sentenced on November 9, 2016, to 15 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. |
|
Major Alexander Session III |
27, of Oakland |
Distribution and possession with intent to distribute, marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) Entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, 49 U.S.C. §§ 46314(a) and 46314(b)(2) |
Sentenced on November 15, 2017, to 24 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. |
|
Clyde Barry Jamerson |
44, of Oakland |
Entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, 49 U.S.C. §§ 46314(a) and 46314(b)(2) |
Sentenced on September 21, 2016, to 3 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. |
|
Kameron Kordero Eldridge Davis |
28, of Dublin, Calif. |
Entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, 49 U.S.C. §§ 46314(a) and 46314(b)(2) |
Sentenced on June 29, 2016, to 6 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. |
|
Ronnell Lamar Molton |
39, of Oakland |
Entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, 49 U.S.C. §§ 46314(a) and 46314(b)(2) |
Sentenced on August 10, 2016, to 3 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. |
|
Sophia Cherise West |
46, of Castro Valley |
Distribution and possession with intent to distribute, marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) Entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, 49 U.S.C. §§ 46314(a) and 46314(b)(2) |
Sentenced on June 1, 2016, to 12 months and one day in prison and 3 years supervised release. |
|
Donald Ray Holland II |
44, of Discovery Bay |
Distribution and possession with intent to distribute, marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) Entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, 49 U.S.C. §§ 46314(a) and 46314(b)(2) |
Sentenced on November 16, 2016, to 27 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. |
|
Brandon Jarred Davillier |
29, of Slidell, Louisiana |
Distribution and possession with intent to distribute, marijuana, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) |
Sentenced on August 3, 2016, to 24 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. |
|
Travon Jahmal Franzwa Baker |
25, of Oakland |
Distribution and possession with intent to distribute, marijuana, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(D) |
Sentenced on May 4, 2016, to 10 months in prison and 3 years supervised release. |
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth Hire is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Vanessa Quant. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the IRS-CI, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.